JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Paxon School for Advanced Studies and James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School were put on a lockout for the rest of the school day on Friday due to police activity in the neighborhood, according to Duval County Public Schools.
Around 8 a.m., Paxon was put on lockdown, and James Weldon Johnson was put on a lockout, as Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers were working on an overnight incident involving a suicidal person, who hadn’t yet been located.
“A search of Paxon High School was conducted as a safety precaution, and we do not believe this subject to be located at the school,” JSO said.
DCPS sent the following message to parents on Friday morning.
“Hello Paxon and James Weldon Johnson families. This is DCPS. Students and staff are safe. Both schools are on a lockout as a precaution due to police activity in neighborhood. No one is allowed to enter or leave school during lockout. Standby for updates.”
Around 11 a.m., the school went from being on lockdown to a lockout for the rest of the school day “out of an abundance of caution” as JSO continued to search for the suicidal person.
DCPS updated families with the following message:
“Hello Paxon and JWJ families, this is Duval County Public Schools with an update. Students and staff at both schools remain safe and will remain on a precautionary lockout for the remainder of the day. We have learned that the initial lockdown at Paxon was due to a report that a suicidal individual was in the area of Paxon. This person did not indicate a threat to harm others. In order to locate this individual, police conducted a search of Paxon and surrounding areas but found no evidence this individual was in the area. Again students and staff remain safe and as JSO continues their investigation, the schools will remain on a precautionary lockout status. Thank you for your understanding and support as we take these security measures to keep students safe.”
