A Code Red lockdown was initiated at Sebastian River High School on Friday morning after a student was observed assisting another in entering the campus through an unauthorized access point, according to Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers.
Sheriff Flowers told Sebastian Daily that the incident began when school staff noticed one student helping another bypass security protocols at an unapproved entry.
“Staff observed one student assisting another student in entering through an unapproved access point. When staff addressed it and observed the student who had avoided security fidgeting with an object in his pants, the students fled,” Flowers explained.
Acting swiftly, school staff placed the facility on a Code Red Lockdown while authorities apprehended both individuals involved. The student who gained unauthorized entry was identified as 18-year-old Dejaveon “DJ” Scott.
Initial rumors of weapons being involved were quickly debunked following an investigation. Instead, Scott was found to be carrying a vape device.
Scott was transported to the Indian River County Jail, where he faces charges including two counts of possession of a controlled substance, trespassing on school property, and disruption of a school function. The second student’s identity and potential disciplinary actions have not been disclosed.
The lockdown triggered a surge of concerned parents arriving at the school to retrieve their children, creating significant logistical challenges. Sheriff Flowers noted that additional road patrol deputies were deployed to manage traffic and ensure an orderly process.
“A high volume of parents attempting to check out their children created some difficulties this morning, but we had the resources in place to handle it,” he said.
School officials said their messenger calls may not have reached all families. “There have been multiple outages in north county with phones and internet, and our system may have been affected. At this time, our school is back to normal operations,” a spokesperson said.
Addressing parental frustration, Flowers emphasized the effectiveness of the school’s safety measures. “I understand that we have some parents who were upset this morning and may still be upset. Ultimately, our training, protocols, and staff response worked exactly as we intend them to,” he said.
Flowers praised the seamless coordination between his team and school staff, expressing pride in their response. “I am incredibly proud of our entire team and the coordinated response with school staff,” Flowers added.
The lockdown was lifted once the situation was fully under control, and normal school operations resumed.
