Port Charlotte High School lockdown leaves students and parents seeking answers

No active threat was found after Port Charlotte High School went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon. According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the school went into lockdown around 1:40 p.m. following a reported threat. According to CCSO, at 2:08 p.m., deputies searched all buildings on the campus and found no active threat. The search left students and parents distressed. "The cops burst into our classroom saying, 'It's not a drill!' And I just freaked out," said Angelie Echezarreta, a student at the school. Haylee Wakeman, another student, described the chaotic scene. "We heard, like, screaming. There were lots of kids that were terrified," she said. Parents also felt the impact of the incident. "My heart instantly dropped. I immediately called the school, but there was no answer," said Lilly Echezarreta, a mother from Port Charlotte. Charlotte County deputies said they are still investigating the situation after finding no active threat during their search of the campus. Brendan Phipps, a student, shared his experience during the lockdown. "They came in and actually searched me for stuff, and they had, like, guns pointed on me too. And it was just really scary," he said. Phipps and the other students all noted that the school had conducted a safety drill earlier that afternoon, but just minutes later, the lockdown began as deputies checked all campus buildings following the reported threat. "They had rifles and everything," Angelie Echezarreta said. The school community is still waiting for clarity on the nature of the threat. "We just really need answers as parents because we just want to make sure that our kids are safe and that there's more security in place," Lilly Echezarreta said. Other parents are also urging faster communication when lockdowns occur. "The communication with the parents from the schools needs to get better," said Brianna Phipps, a mother from Port Charlotte. Count on Gulf Coast News to keep you updated as this story develops. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.