ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of assaulting a South Creek Middle School teacher didn't sneak past security on Thursday but was let into the school by a student, authorities said.
Authorities said the man knocked on a side door at the East Wetherbee Road school and the unsuspecting student let him in.
Photos: Teacher assault prompts school lockdown
Audio: Call from principal to parents
Deputies received a call shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday about a domestic-related battery at the school involving a female teacher being hit by a man whom the teacher knows, authorities said.
The suspect fled the scene, and the school was placed on lockdown, which has since been lifted, according to Orange County Schools.
Some students said they had to hide as each room and hallway was cleared of any potential threat.
"They just have us sit in the corner and be as silent as you can possibly be," said student Tyler Cox.
"There was people crying and I was all the way in the corner telling people to be quiet because they were on their phone," said student Diego Escobar.
Classes resumed, but many parents picked up their children and took them home.
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"My son texted me and said, 'This is not a drill. We are on code red lockdown,'" said parent Janet Wade. "I just freaked out. I was the last car here before they blocked everything off. I got here and the cops were all coming and the helicopter was flying overhead and you think about what's happened in the past at other schools, and it's terrifying."
The school has security cameras and several security personnel onsite who are supposed to be watching the campus at all times, authorities said.
School leaders are reviewing security footage to see how their school resource officer and staff could have missed such an obvious threat.
No students were injured.
Follow Karla Ray on Twitter at @KRayWFTV for live updates from the scene.
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