Earlier this morning, Lake Wales Daily began receiving reports of a heavy police presence at McLaughlin Academy of Excellence in Lake Wales.
The following message was broadcast via email at around 8:17 this morning by the Polk County Public Schools as confirmed by PCPS:
This message is being sent on behalf of McLaughlin Academy of Excellence.
Dear families,
All students and staff are safe.
McLaughlin Academy of Excellence was briefly placed on heightened security this morning.
Law enforcement received an anonymous telephone call that someone heard gunfire on campus.
However, this was a completely false report.
No one on campus heard this noise. The entire campus has been searched. Nothing was found.
Again, all students and staff members are safe. This was a false report.
Law enforcement has determined that the campus is safe and secure. As a result, heightened security has been lifted.
All school operations have returned to normal.
Please be advised that we will have additional security measures in place and extra law enforcement on campus today. This is being done in an abundance of caution, and to ensure a calm school day.
Thank you.
We have contacted local law enforcement for comment; this story will be updated.
