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Oviedo, FL - A short Code Red lockdown at Lawton Chiles Middle School in Oviedo on Tuesday was prompted by an automated safety alert that misidentified a musical instrument as a possible weapon.
According to Seminole County Public Schools, officials said the school’s weapons detection technology activated when a student was seen holding a clarinet in a way that allegedly resembled someone carrying a rifle.
The alert initiated a campuswide lockdown until authorities confirmed there was no threat.
School Principal Dr. Melissa Laudani notified families shortly after the incident.
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She explained that the student was walking through a hallway when the posture of holding the clarinet triggered the system.
Dr. Laudani stated that the school’s layered safety measures responded as designed, prompting immediate action by staff and law enforcement partners.
The lockdown lasted only a brief period, and officials reported that all students and staff were safe once the situation was assessed.
Oviedo Police later issued a public statement confirming the Code Red had been cleared and emphasizing that the precaution was based on the automated system’s alert.
Dr. Laudani asked parents to speak with their children about the risks of mimicking or pretending to carry a weapon on school property, noting that such behavior can activate campus safety protocols.
She expressed appreciation for the rapid response from law enforcement and for the cooperation of students and school personnel.
No arrests were made, and no criminal activity was alleged beyond the initial misunderstanding involving the musical instrument.