A report of a possible gun on campus sent a Tampa high school on a lockout Thursday morning, triggering a police response - but what officers found wasn’t a firearm at all.
The Tampa Police Department responded to Freedom High School just before 9:30 a.m. following a report from a student who believed they saw another student on campus possibly armed with a gun.
Officers said the reporting student immediately shared their concerns with a teacher, who then told the School Resource Officer.
According to the release, the student in question, who did not make any threats to the school or any individual, was found in the school gym carrying a cell phone case made with a replica handgun attached.
"
We understand that news like this is deeply concerning and can cause anxiety for parents and the entire community," said Chief Lee Bercaw
.
Thankfully, in this case, there was no active threat. We appreciate the swift action of the student and teacher in reporting this concern. Their actions are a testament to the importance of ‘See Something, Say Something.'
We urge all parents to take this opportunity to talk with their children about school safety, what is appropriate to bring to school, and the importance of reporting anything that seems suspicious."
In response to the original report, the Tampa Police Department immediately sent multiple officers to Freedom High School, including the Tampa Police Aviation Unit.
The school was placed on “Lockout” status as officers searched the campus and surrounding area to determine if there was any credible threat.
The Tampa Police Department said this remains an active investigation.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.