All clear given after bomb threat prompts evacuation at Lauderdale Lakes schools

Children escorted to Oakland Park Flea Market Mall, Westminster Academy

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of three Lauderdale Lakes schools Thursday morning.

Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said deputies received a Crime Stoppers tip of a bomb threat at Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Boyd H. Anderson High School. She said nearby Oriole Elementary was also evacuated while deputies investigated the threat.

A view from Sky 10 showed children congregating on the football field outside the school.

The children were later led off campus by school administrators.

"It was scary," one Lauderdale Lakes Middle School student said. 

Broward County Public Schools spokeswoman Nadine Drew said all three schools were evacuated as a precaution.

The elementary school students were escorted to the nearby Oakland Park Flea Market Mall, while the middle school students were escorted to the Westminster Academy athletic complex.

"They just told us that they're going to walk the kids here and they're going to have a sign out booth," parent Tasha Sledge told Local 10 News.

Another BCPS spokeswoman, Tracy Clark, said the district informed parents about the threat through a robocall and text message as they worked with BSO to get everyone to safety.

"We take bomb threats very seriously," she said. "When law enforcement gives us the word, we follow all of the protocols involved with safety."

Drew said a number of parents had picked up their children by 1:30 p.m. She said the remaining students returned to school and classes have resumed as normal. 


About the Authors:

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.