Breaking News — Web site post causes "semi lockdown" at West Nassau High

By KEVIN TURNER
kevin.turner@mynassausun.com

CALLAHAN — West Nassau High School was on “semi-lockdown” Friday after a suspended 17-year-old student posted to his MySpace Web site that he was going to bring a gun to school today and kill students, Nassau County Sheriff Tommy Seagraves said.

Acting on a tip from worried students Thursday, deputies arrested the student within 100 yards of the high school, on a felony charge of written threats to kill or do bodily injury.

But suspecting he would be released soon after his arrest because he is a juvenile, the high school went on increased security Friday, said Sharyl Wood, Nassau County School District executive director of administrative services.

“The school determined, because they weren’t sure he would stay arrested, they would heighten security today as a precaution. They locked the front doors and added extra security.”

Seagraves said today that caution was warranted because juvenile authorities released the student.

He appeared in court in Duval County this morning, he said.

“He denied any involvement,” Seagraves said. The student's alleged web site posting was down by the time investigators saw the site, but officers felt they had enough information to arrest him.

“They arrested him for making threats to kill or do bodily injury, which is a felony,” Seagraves said.

Meanwhile, Seagraves said he’s assisting in the security effort today.

“I have extra officers at the school,” he said.

The scene at the school’s front desk was harried this morning, as some parents, just hearing of the incident, called to pick up their children as a deputy watched. Other parents kept their children away from school Friday, Wood said.

kevin.turner@mynassausun.com, 904-261-7606, ext. 6354