INTERLACHEN, Fla. — A 34-year-old man has been arrested after deputies say he entered school property armed with a weapon during an active lockdown at Interlachen Junior-Senior High School.
Steven Musgrove, of Interlachen, was taken into custody following the April 17 incident, which began with a reported school threat submitted through the FortifyFL system.
Deputies said the school was already on lockdown as they cleared the campus and the classroom linked to the threat when surveillance cameras captured Musgrove, who was shirtless and carrying a billy club, after he climbed over a perimeter fence and entered school grounds.
Authorities said Musgrove was seen behind a pillar near the school library and later pacing an exterior hallway. A second lockdown was initiated as a precaution.
Before deputies could confront him, Musgrove climbed back over a fence, returned to the front parking lot and left the campus in a vehicle.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said the situation could have ended much more seriously.
“Mr. Musgrove is extremely fortunate that the school was already on a lockdown when he illegally scaled a perimeter fence in order to gain entry,” DeLoach said. “If he had remained on campus, he would have been met with deadly force.”
Officials emphasized that no one is allowed to enter or leave a campus during a lockdown, warning that doing so can interfere with law enforcement response and create additional danger.
“Parents who attempt to take vigilante justice not only impede our ability to stop a threat, they can be considered a threat themselves, especially when armed,” DeLoach added.
Musgrove was arrested and charged with interfering with school administration functions, trespassing while armed, possession of a weapon on school property and violation of drug offender probation. He is being held without bond.