All-clear issued at Mainland High School after ‘emergency button activated’

No reports of injuries, Daytona Beach police say

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The all-clear was issued Friday at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach after “an emergency button was activated,” prompting police to flock to the school.

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Daytona Beach police tweeted an update after officers went room to room in each building on campus.

“All rooms and buildings have been cleared. Nothing located. At this point it appears to be a false alarm and no threat to the school or the students,” police said.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said during a news conference after the all-clear there had been a threat at the school Thursday, found scrawled on a bathroom wall.

A message was sent to parents about the threat on Thursday evening. Below is the text of that message:

“Good Evening Mainland Family,

This is Joe Castelli, Mainland HS principal.

I’m calling this evening with an important message. Today, our school was made aware of a concerning social media post. The post was a photograph of a threat, graffiti on a bathroom wall. We quickly investigated the threat, and it has been deemed unfounded. Thank you to our teachers, SRO, Officer Peralta, and district school guardian team for the swift investigation and assistance. We take these scenarios seriously and will have an added school guardian presence throughout today and tomorrow.”

Joe Castelli, Mainland HS principal

Young added that there was extra security at the school Friday because of that threat.

The chief said a member of the faculty hit the panic alarm after a student ran out of the cafeteria “making a statement in reference to a gun.”

“Once they heard gun, they hit the panic alarm and every available unit responded to Mainland High School,” Young said.

Young said that he was pleased with the response overall and that students followed officers’ orders well. However, he did say that there were some issues with entering locked rooms in the building.

“There was an issue with keys. That’s something we got to work through as far as being able to unlock doors, and just check empty closet spaces, empty offices, so on and so forth. But all of that is going to be handled during the after-action (assessment),” Young said.

Earlier, Young said no shots were fired and there were no reports of injuries.

“We’re currently investigating a panic alarm at Mainland High School in reference to a gun threat. NO SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED AND THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES. We are still clearing the school to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said in a tweet.

Police closed a portion of International Speedway Boulevard at Clyde Morris Boulevard while the incident was investigated.

The roads are now back open.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office assisted Daytona Beach police with “clearing Mainland High.”

This event comes one day after a thrown chair caused a panic at Winter Springs High School. The noise of the chair breaking glass was mistaken for a possible gunshot and code red lockdown was issued and a 16-year-old student was arrested.


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About the Author:

Thomas Mates is a digital storyteller for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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