Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early today, deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office rushed to Eastside High School following reports of gunfire, only to find the alert was a false alarm. Authorities are now probing the origins of this deceptive call.

At precisely 11:21 a.m. on January 20, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center received a distressing call from an individual claiming, “Send help, they are shooting.”

At the moment of the call, two School Resource Deputies were present on campus. Upon being notified, they reported not having heard any gunshots.

A substantial number of deputies were dispatched to the school, but after a thorough investigation, they confirmed that the alarm was unfounded.

Under Florida State Statute 790.163, making a false report about firearm use in a violent manner is classified as a second-degree felony. Consequently, Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Detectives are diligently investigating the source of this false report.