Three schools put on lockdown after armed burglary at Bunker Knolls Lane

The lockdowns, which occurred at Indian Trails Middle School, Belle Terre Elementary School and United Methodist Christian School, were lifted at about 9:40 a.m.

By Ray Boone
| 9:55 a.m. September 5, 2017

Palm Coast Observer
Crime

Three schools in Flagler County were put on lockdown after an armed burglary occurred in the area, according to Brittany Kershaw, the public affairs officer for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 5, Indian Trails Middle School, Belle Terre Elementary School and United Methodist Christian School were put on lockdown after a suspect allegedly put a gun to the face of someone at a home in Bunker Knolls Lane, Kershaw said.

The suspect first rang the doorbell of the home, and when a person opened the door, the suspect put a gun to his or her face and entered the home. The person living in the home fled, and the suspect eventually took off from the back of the house.

At this time, deputies don’t know if anything was taken, Kershaw said.

Because the suspect was armed, Indian Trails was put on lockdown at 8:30 a.m., Belle Terre was put on lockdown at 9 a.m. and United Methodist chose an optional lockdown at 9:25 a.m. Belle Terre, which starts school at 9 a.m., had law enforcement on school property to make sure all the kids got inside safely. All lockdowns were lifted at around 9:40 a.m.

Deputies set up a perimeter at 8:20 a.m. and broke down the perimeter at 9:40 a.m. Deputies are still searching for the suspect, believed to be a 6-foot black male with short hair wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, but no longer believe he is in the area.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.