Our reporting from five years ago shows how little the school district’s reporting on violence on campuses has changed:
In February 2017, Inweekly broke the news that a Booker T. Washington High student was arrested after he was found with a gun on campus.
After our report, Principal Dr. Michael Smith sent out this automated message to parents:
“Good evening, parents and students. This is Dr. Roberts calling from Booker T. Washington High School to inform all parents and students that today we had an incident at campus in which a student was found to be in possession of an illegal item.
The school district, with the assistance of law enforcement, took immediate actions to ensure the safety and well-being of all parties. I thank each of you for your care, support, and concerns.
Good evening, Dr. Roberts”
Dr. Roberts did not tell the parents a student was arrested for carrying a gun on campus.
When contacted by Inweekly, Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas confirmed a student was arrested for having a gun at the school.
Thomas would not release any details about the arrest of the student. However, he said Florida law mandates the student’s expulsion. He said, “It’s a student issue, and there is not a lot I will be able to tell you.”
Thomas said the student was caught before the gun could be used in a “threatening way.” He added, “Thankfully, no one was injured or threatened. (The gun) wasn’t brandished to other kids.”
Neither the Pensacola Police Department or the Escambia County School District reported the incident to the public before Inweekly reported it.
Later, a relative of the boy who originally brought the handgun on the campus called Inweekly to say that the student had no intention of hurting anyone but himself. He planned to do it off campus.
She said that William Caldwell took the gun away from him to save his life. Caldwell was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school property, a third-degree felony.
To learn about school violence and how the district handled it five years ago, read Keeping Escambia Schools Safe.