A boy biking home from Eustis Elementary School was followed by a woman in a dark SUV shortly after dismissal last Tuesday, prompting a police search for the vehicle and its driver. The child grew suspicious of the woman, fled the area, and the vehicle briefly followed him before turning down another street.
Eustis police say the encounter happened on September 15, according to WFTV.
The vehicle is described as a black 2015-2020 GMC Yukon XL, and the driver as a woman in her mid-40s with black hair, per the same account. After the boy ran, the SUV followed him briefly before turning down another street, and no suspect has since been identified. Eustis police have urged the public to watch out for the vehicle and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at [email protected] or 352-483-5400.
Why the Boy Was Biking Alone
The incident unfolded near a school that serves hundreds of young children, many of whom travel home without a bus. Eustis Elementary School, located at 714 East Citrus Avenue, serves over 400 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Lake County Schools district, according to Niche. Randy Campbell, who brings 31 years of educational experience, took over as the school's principal for the 2026-2027 school year following the departure of former principal Reanna Boardway, as reported by Inside Lake.
Children bike or walk near Eustis Elementary.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri, a 31-year law enforcement veteran, oversees 48 sworn officers serving the city, according to the City of Eustis. The department has previously distinguished itself on child-safety enforcement — Eustis was the first municipality in Florida to install automated speed cameras in school zones, issuing more than 1,300 citations during its initial five weeks of operation in 2024, as Hoodline reported at the time.
Legal Stakes Have Risen Under State Law
Any confirmed attempt to lure a child now carries steeper consequences than it did a year ago. Effective October 1, 2025, Florida amended its child luring statute under House Bill 777, amending Florida Statute 787.025 to upgrade a first-time attempt to lure a child under 14 from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, according to The Law Place. Eustis police have described the September 15 case only as a suspicious incident, and no suspect has been identified or charged.
Countywide, transportation safety oversight has also expanded this year. In July, Lake County Schools announced that 240 district school buses were equipped with stop-arm enforcement cameras to automatically document vehicles illegally passing stopped buses.
