Three 9th-graders arrested after firecrackers mistaken for gunfire at Daytona Beach school, police investigating threat

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Three ninth-graders were arrested after reports of a shooting at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach ended up being firecrackers, the Daytona Beach Police Department said.

Police said they were called to the school at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

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“This is not a shooting, and there is no shooter,” the agency said in a tweet. “Firecrackers were found on-scene by our detectives.”

Police said the firecrackers were ignited in a stairwell.

Daytona Beach police Chief Craig Capri said 40 to 50 parents ran up to him at the school, crying and asking what had happened.

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“When I went to the scene, parents were ... hysterical, which is expected," he said. “Then you have the students inside (who) are traumatized. We had several instances where students had panic attacks.”

Capri said three ninth-graders were arrested in relation to the incident. He said the students will be charged with disruption of a school function and bringing an explosive device onto school property.

“(The students) should be getting a beating from their parents, too,” he said “This is just ridiculous. I’m so upset about what’s happening here.”

No one was injured.

The Volusia County School District said it is aware of a social media post saying the incident was a “test" and there will be an increased law enforcement presence at the school Friday morning.

Capri said investigators have spoken to the student behind the threat and do not believe it is credible.

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