TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what appears to be suicide on the campus of a Hillsborough County school.
Deputies responded to calls regarding a shooting at Farnell Middle School on Friday, October 20, 2023. When they arrived, the deputies discovered a deceased adult male in the rear of the school.
According to preliminary investigations, a man drove to the bus stop where parents and students drop off their children. As he approached the school building, he took his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Unfortunately, two students were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting and witnessed the incident. Those students ran to the office, informing school staff and, using the CENTEGIX System, placed the school on immediate lockdown.
“He stops, pulls out his firearm, and, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, he takes his own life,” said Chronister. “The unfortunate part is, there were children that were just dropped off, a few short feet behind him.”
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“As horrible as this was for the students who witnessed it, I must commend their bravery and quick action in telling school staff,” said Chronister. “They did not know or understand fully what was happening except that there was a weapon on campus that had been discharged and that other students could be in danger.”
At this time, it is believed the man who committed suicide is the ex-husband of a teacher at the middle school. At no time did he attempt to enter the school.
The school lockdown was lifted once it was determined that no children were in danger.
HCSO deputies are still processing the scene and working with Hillsborough County Public Schools and school security to ensure students are taken care of, and parents are notified of the incident.
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