Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Seminole High School, 2701 Ridgewood Ave, Sanford, Florida, was in lockdown for 3 hours after a student was shot 3 timers by another student just before noon on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. Sanford cops said the alleged shooter, 16-year-old Da'raveius Smith, shown at far right, was in police custody, but information on criminal charges has yet to be released. LEFT: All entrances to the school campus were sealed off by law enforcement officers from the Sanford Police Department and deputies with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. A Sanford Police SWAT officer is shown with an assault rifle inside the main entrance to the school. Also shown is a pic of the shooting victim, 18-year-old student Jhavon McIntyre, who was in surgery for three gunshot wounds at Central Florida Regional Hospital, but expected to survive.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- Just before noon today, school resource officers were advised there was a gun on campus at Seminole High School and moments later were informed by students of gunshots fired leading to one student being shot three times but expected to survive.
The victim, identified as 18-year-old student Jhavon McIntyre, was transported to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where he was in surgery for three gunshots, but was expected to survive the injuries, police said.
The shooter, also a student, identified as 16-year-old Da'raveius Smith, was taken into police custody around 12:20 p.m.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said the shooting was not gang-related. He said it apparently stemmed from an argument over a girl who also attends Seminole High School, the largest in the county with 4,062 enrolled students.
The shooter apparently tossed an 8 mm handgun into the bushes before he was apprehended moments later and taken into custody without further incident, cops said.
The investigation is still in the preliminary stages; however, it appears that the incident was the result of an isolated dispute between the suspect and the victim, Sanford police said in a series of email media alerts and tweets.
The nature of that dispute is still under investigation, police said, adding the gun used in the shooting has been recovered from the bushes where the suspect was seen any a multitude of students, teachers, and other school personnel in the midst of the chaos. Spent shell casings from the shooting itself were recovered as well.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith issued a statement via email media alert to Headline Surfer and other Central Florida daily news outlets at 2 pm: “The incident that occurred today is one that we prepare for but hope never occurs. We are grateful that there was no loss of life today; however, the gravity of what happened is not lessened."
Smith added: I am proud of the swift actions of the School Resource Officers and other law enforcement that immediately responded, provided aid, and ensured the safety of the students on campus. Our focus now is making sure all aspects of the investigation are thoroughly addressed as charges are filed on the suspect.”
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith issued a statement via email media alert to Headline Surfer and other Central Florida daily news outlets at 2 pm: “The incident that occurred today is one that we prepare for but hope never occurs. We are grateful that there was no loss of life today; however, the gravity of what happened is not lessened."
Smith added: "I am proud of the swift actions of the school resource officers and other law enforcement that immediately responded, provided aid, and ensured the safety of the students on campus. Our focus now is making sure all aspects of the investigation are thoroughly addressed as charges are filed on the suspect.”
Countless parents took to social media to voice their concerns hours after it was over.
"My daughter was right outside the building when this happened and called me saying she was running because there was a shooter on campus," said Tania Mings on the Seminole High School page on Facebook. "It definitely could have been much worse but I’m still sad for the trauma it put our kids through. My daughter heard the gunshots and really thought her life was at risk. This has got to stop!"
Photos for Headline Surfer / Seminole High School was swarming with cops and deputies following a shooting on the campus.
Jessica Charlie took to Facebook and posted this at 2:38 pm: Now they are checking the kids' backpacks before they are dismissed. Should have checked them this morning before school started! Wasn't it last month another student brought a loaded gun to school? How safe is this school now? I'm starting to lose faith."
Susie Q Carruthers noted the shooting victim was "shot 3 times and is in surgery but the school said non-life-threatening," adding, "There are seriously some issues that need to be addressed."
The school was in lockdown until the end of the school day just after 3 p pm.
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding this incident, to contact Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimeline.org. Calls made to Crimeline remain anonymous, and tips to Crimeline that lead to solving a felony case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008 along the I-4 tourism corridor in greater Daytona Beach to Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed 115 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases such as the George Zimmerman murder trial, Frederick has appeared on national crime shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. AWJ: