Chaos ensued at Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Florida this morning following a shooting incident in the school's parking lot, prompting a heavy police response and a lockdown. WPTV reported a "massive investigation" was underway, with Riviera Beach police asserting there was no ongoing threat to the public or students.
The lockdown was initiated shortly after the incident occurred during morning arrivals as police swarmed the scene a person was injured in a police-involved shooting, the individual’s identity remains unknown and their current condition has not been released as of the most recent updates, crime scene tape cordoned off the area surrounded by multiple law enforcement vehicles. According to a statement obtained by WPTV, the School District of Palm Beach County confirmed "no students or school staff were harmed," and the school was immediately secured. Meanwhile, nearby schools including Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Washington Elementary, and John F. Kennedy Middle School were placed under "limited movement" but later received clearance to continue with a regular school day.
Photographs from the NBC Miami showed students traversing the courtyard while parents convened for the early collection of their children, signaling some semblance of normalcy amidst the tumult. The district informed parents of the option to retrieve their children from the school, which remained open despite the morning's disturbance.
Riviera Beach Councilman Doug Lawson provided reassurance in an interview with WPTV, stating, "All the students are fine," "All the teachers and staff are fine," amidst the unsettled quietude that followed the lock screens and sirens. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as conveyed to WPTV's Shannon Cake by a top-ranking Riviera Beach police official, has taken the helm of the investigation. As for the officer involved in the shooting, the official added, "She is going to be OK."
While student safety remained a top priority, the district outlined procedures for parents wishing to pick up their children, directing them to the specified bus loop and requiring identification. For student drivers to leave early, the school asked for an emailed authorization to be sent to the provided school's attendance email address.
