West Pine Middle in Sunrise goes on lockdown

A Sunrise school went into lockdown Tuesday after a student at West Pine Middle School insinuated to another peer that they had a gun.

According to Sunrise police, they responded to a Code Red at West Pine Middle at around 1 p.m.

Several others schools, including Piper High School, were also placed on lockdowns.

Yahaira Broderick, a student at Piper, said she and her peers were desperate to get in contact with their loved ones.

“Everyone immediately started running out of the cafeteria and into each building,” said Broderick. “Helicopters could be heard from inside the classroom, which made it intense for us.”

According to a statement released by Sunrise police Sgt. Darwin Arroyo, a student at West Pine told a staff member about an overheard conversation in which another student was asked to hold a gun. That student refused, and the suspect and two others left the campus grounds.

Jacil Brown, a student at West Pine, said that because there had been a fire drill earlier in the day, the lockdown, which came around fourth period, did not immediately cause alarm.

“At first no one was really scared at all, no one was taking it serious but then after like 10 minutes everyone started to realize this was a real Code Red,” said Brown.

Police said the suspect, along with the two others, was found in a Lauderhill park and taken into custody. No weapons were found, and no charges have yet been filed.

Yahaira’s mom, Sandie Hinds-Sims, said she texted her daughter after seeing police cars speeding into the direction of the school.

“I wanted to know if something was going on and if there was, I told her to listen, to stay safe and that I love her,” said Hinds-Sims.

According to CBS4, no weapons were found on campus and the schools were able to dismiss on time.

Mickaella is a senior at FIU, currently majoring in Journalism and looking forward to a Spring 2020 graduation. She was born in New Jersey but moved to Miami at the age of 7. Missing the fall foliage, winter snow and 24/7 deli’s, she plans to move back up north to New York after graduation and further enhance her career.