Fort Lauderdale middle school locked down after report of possible weapon on campus, police say

A report of a possible weapon on campus led to a tense afternoon at New River Middle School in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, leaving students and parents shaken.

"Everybody just started running to the back of the room where we were told to go. We were all nervous, and so many people were crying," recalled Logan Covelli, an eighth grader at New River Middle School. "It was just nerve-wracking, very, very scary about everything that has happened."

According to Fort Lauderdale Police, officers responded to a call at 12:30 p.m. reporting that a student may have brought a gun to school. They arrived immediately at New River Middle School, located at 3100 Riverland Road.

The school was placed on lockdown while law enforcement conducted a thorough search, and parents were notified.

"I started shaking. I was very nervous and scared, praying that everything was OK and my son and all the kids were safe," said Janette Builes, who rushed to the school, where her son is a sixth grader.

Shortly after, the lockdown was lifted and the all clear was given as police located the student in question and determined there was no weapon. Relief washed over students and parents who had feared for the safety of their children.

"My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach, so when he called me, I said thank God," one parent said. "I'm just picking him up to give him a big hug and have him close," added Builes.

After the lockdown was lifted, school resumed its regular schedule, though parents could still pick up their children if they wished. Broward County Public Schools said in a statement, "Law enforcement conducted a thorough search and nothing was located. The school received an all clear to resume its normal schedule."R

Report comes one day after similar incident in southwest Miami-Dade

This report comes just one day after a massive emergency response was reported at Christopher Columbus High School in southwest Miami-Dade after someone called to report that they may have been an armed person on campus.

That school, as well as several neighboring schools, were locked down while deputies conducted an investigation.

No active shooter was located there, and no shots were ever fired.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is still working to determine who made the phone call reporting the possible armed person that prompted the massive investigation.