During a lockdown at Interlachen Junior-Senior High School on April 17, a 34-year-old man climbed a perimeter fence and made it onto campus while carrying a billy club, according to authorities. Security cameras reportedly caught the shirtless suspect moving near the school library, pacing along an exterior hallway, then leaving the grounds. Deputies later arrested the man, who has been booked on multiple charges and is being held without bond.
As reported by News4JAX, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Steven Musgrove and said the original tip that prompted the lockdown came through the FortifyFL app. According to the station, deputies pulled security footage that showed Musgrove behind a pillar near the library, then climbing a second fence to reach the front parking lot before getting into a vehicle and leaving. Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach told the outlet Musgrove was "extremely fortunate" the school was already on lockdown and warned that entering a locked campus can create danger for students and responders.
How the lockdown began
The sheriff’s office says the alert that started the lockdown came in through FortifyFL, the statewide suspicious-activity reporting tool that routes tips to school officials and law enforcement. As outlined on FortifyFL, those tips can include text, photos and video and may be submitted anonymously. The Putnam County School District’s live feed also directs families to FortifyFL and stresses that lockdowns allow officers to clear buildings without interference, repeatedly urging parents not to approach campuses during active lockdowns.
Charges and booking
Musgrove was booked on counts including interfering with school administration functions, trespassing a structure or conveyance while armed, possession of a weapon on school property and violation of drug-offender probation, according to News4JAX. The station reports he remains in custody at the Putnam County jail without bond while deputies complete their investigation. Prosecutors will review the sheriff’s report and the collected evidence before deciding whether to file formal charges in court.
School safety and next steps
District and law enforcement officials reiterated that lockdown protocols are intended to protect students and staff while deputies clear campuses and investigate potential threats. The Putnam County School District notes on its live feed that attempting to enter a school during a lockdown can slow response efforts and put people at risk. Officials say the investigation remains active and encouraged anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office.
