WINDERMERE, Fla. – A lockdown at Windermere High School was lifted Wednesday afternoon after authorities found there was no validity to a threat that there might be a student with a gun in one of the bathrooms, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ingrid Tejada-Monforte said a parent called the school around 11:30 a.m. after his or her child sent a text about a potential gunman on campus. The school then notified authorities.
“There are guys in the bathrooms and hallways with guns in Windermere High School. We are afraid help, please call 911 now," the text message read, according to deputies.
School officials said the more than 3,000 students and staff members at the school were safe during the incident.
A tweet from the school's official Twitter account indicated the lockdown was put in place as of 11:59 a.m. Wednesday. The lockdown was lifted shortly before 2:30 p.m. after deputies determined there was no threat.
Students were dismissed at 2:45 p.m.
"The sheriff’s department is on property and will be clearing the buildings. As the buildings are cleared, students will be moved to the athletic fields. As soon as all buildings have been cleared, students will be released from the athletic fields," officials wrote on the school's Facebook page at 12:40 p.m.
Students were kept in classrooms while deputies searched.
"As the chief stated, this is something very serious. Kids think that it's a joke. We need our parents to speak to these kids. This is not joking. You will get arrested if you make threats like this," Tejada-Monforte said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Deputies checked the remainder of the school and no weapons or threat were found.
Sky 6 video from the scene showed multiple patrol cars parked in front of the school.
News of the lockdown comes a day after a student at Lake Minneola High School brought a gun to campus and fatally shot himself during a pre-planned fire drill.
In September, Windermere High School was placed on a lockdown after students received a threatening text message.
"Shooting at anytime today we are already inside Windermere High School be safe," the message read.
No threat was found at the school. Authorities questioned two students in connection with the incident, but no charges were filed.
Check back for more details on this developing story.