CLOSE Grandparent of Bailey Middle School student shares her experience with Wednesday's lockdown

Buy Photo Worried parents of Bailey Middle School gather outside the school while under lockdown Wednesday. (Photo: Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com)Buy Photo

UPDATE 1 p.m.:

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said he "strongly suspects" the 14-year-old boy who was allegedly behind today's lockdowns at Bailey Middle School and Hellen Caro Elementary School will face charges.

Morgan said additional law enforcement officers were at the school this morning after a social media threat circulated overnight. That threat has since been deemed not credible.

About 15 law enforcement officials were at the school to investigate that threat. Officers were then told that a Bailey Middle School student made a comment that there was a gun inside the school, according to Morgan.

In response to that, Morgan said ECSO was in the first stages of deploying a SWAT team to sweep the school when officers determined there wasn't a firearm in the building.

Deputies searched through rooms and personal belongings like backpacks and purses to determine there was not a firearm, he said.

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Morgan said his office now is speaking with the State Attorney's Office to determine what charges may be appropriate to file against the juvenile.

Grandparent Amy Burgett was receiving heartbreaking texts from her sixth-grader grandson during today's lockdown at Bailey Middle School. She said enough is enough and she's pulling him from school until the gun issue is rectified. @pnjpic.twitter.com/pWNBLeWMDR — Emma Kennedy (@byemmakennedy) February 28, 2018

"What we're doing in this heightened state of anxiety everyone's in since the Parkland shooting is a combination of intel," Morgan said, adding that the ECSO has been in consultation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI to ensure the department is scouring social media-based threats as efficiently as possible.

UPDATE noon

Information about a suspect having a gun led Bailey Middle School and Hellen Caro Elementary to be placed under lockdown at about 10 a.m., said Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Maj. Andrew Hobbs.

Hobbs said the incident is under investigation and he could not release further details. The lockdown has since been lifted.

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A school official initially told parents gathered outside the school that a series of Snapchat posts and text messages shared among students Tuesday night and today led to the lockdowns.

Hobbs said the Snapchats and texts caused a heavy police presence at the schools this morning as law enforcement investigated.

But, he said, the lockdown was implemented after police received a report of a suspect with a firearm inside Bailey Middle School.

Hobbs said police did not find a firearm in the school.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.

The lockdown at Bailey Middle School and Hellen Caro Elementary has been lifted.

UPDATE 11:20 a.m.

A series of Snapchat posts and text messages shared among students Tuesday night and today led to the lockdown at Bailey Middle School and Hellen Caro Elementary.

An official from the school made that announcement to parents gathered outside the school today.

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The official said that there was no imminent threat to students at any time. The school is also expected to come off lockdown shortly.

About 50 to 60 parents have gathered outside the school and formed a line to pick up their students for the remainder of the day once the lockdown is lifted.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m.:

Bailey Middle School is now on lockdown as authorities investigate a second threat at the school.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Maj. Andrew Hobbs said the school was on lockdown as of 10:15 a.m.

He said the threat currently under investigation appears to be separate from the rumor that sparked additional police presence at the campus Wednesday morning.

More: Escambia County schools to act faster during lockdowns with new parent alert policy

Hobbs did not disclose the nature of the second threat, but the first threat was involving a school shooting. Multiple officers are on scene.

Hellen Caro Elementary is also on lockdown as a precaution, Hobbs said.

We will update with more information as it becomes available.

Original story

A heavy law enforcement presence was at Jim Bailey Middle School Wednesday morning after authorities received reports of a threat at the school.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Maj. Andrew Hobbs said it appears the threat is unfounded, and was based on a student-to-student rumor.

He said the nature of the threat was school shooting-related.

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ECSO deputies, school resource officers and the intelligence unit were on site at the school Wednesday morning to ensure students' safety, Hobbs said.

Emma Kennedy can be reached at ekennedy@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.

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