West Port High School became the third Ocala-area high school to face a lockdown this week after an anonymous bomb threat triggered a heavy law enforcement response on Friday morning.
The Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to the campus, located at 3733 SW 80th Avenue, after receiving a report of an anonymous bomb threat on Friday, May 1.
According to a statement from OPD, the school was immediately placed under a “Code Red” lockdown as officers conducted a systematic search of the facilities. Authorities requested that the public avoid the area to allow teams to clear the campus safely.
Following a thorough investigation, the school was safely cleared, and officials confirmed that no bomb was found.
Law enforcement remained on the scene to manage a staggered dismissal process, which released bus riders first, followed by student drivers and car riders. The origin of the threat remains under active investigation.
The incident at West Port High School marks the third time this week that a Marion County high school has been disrupted by security threats.
On Tuesday afternoon, North Marion High School was placed under a “Code Yellow” lockdown at approximately 1:57 p.m. due to an unspecified threat. Students and teachers were held in their classrooms past the closing bell while deputies investigated the scene.
The lockdown at North Marion followed a similar incident less than 24 hours earlier at Forest High School in Ocala.
On Monday, that high school was also placed on lockdown after a threat was received that authorities eventually determined was likely a “swatting” call.
Law enforcement has not yet indicated if the three incidents are related.