JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A report late Tuesday night that five guns had been stolen from a house led to enhanced security Wednesday at two Duval County Public Schools.
A woman called police at 10:39 p.m. Tuesday to report that the firearms had been stolen on Sunday from her home.
She told police when they arrived a little after midnight that someone had broken into her safe while she was at a local hospital with her husband.
Police said the woman’s 13-year-old son told officers the robbery happened between noon and 6:30 p.m. Sunday and that the suspects ran away from the house. He thought they might have called an Uber. The teen could not describe the thieves.
But police have since said that three juveniles were involved.
The woman said the guns -- two black handguns, a black handgun with a laser, a black handgun with a red trigger, and a black and silver snub nose revolver -- were kept in a closet that has a fingerprint locking/scanning system.
One responding officer said he saw several markings on the closet door that were consistent with someone trying to pry open the door.
DCPS confirmed that the suspects, whose ages have not been released, attend either Mandarin Middle School or Atlantic Coast High School.
A message Wednesday morning to families of students at those schools said police were looking for three teens suspected of stealing guns from a home. The message said that additional security would be in place at the schools on Wednesday.
“Because of this situation and in an abundance of caution, we will have additional officers at these schools,” the message explained. “Atlantic Coast will use its Evolve weapons detection system and Mandarin will use its metal detectors to screen all students at in-take.”
The message said any new information would be communicated to parents.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement these procedures,” the message said.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney said police and schools are forced to do this as a precaution.
“This is sad that we live in this world, but it is an unfortunate reality, not just here in Jacksonville, but anywhere in the country. Any day has the potential for one of these things escalating,” Hackney said. “Everything that goes through the school’s mind is the protection of their kids. Obviously, a parent who is listening right now has that same thought. Is my child safe?”
News4JAX asked the district when it learned about the threat and whether any other actions were being taken, but a spokesperson declined to elaborate further.