Lockdown

Man shot at High Springs Community School - No children injured

High Springs Community School went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a shooting at the school. No children were injured in the incident, but Robert Nodine, 63, of High Springs was shot by authorities while being escorted off the school grounds, and was taken to a local hospital.

A Wednesday afternoon shooting at High Springs Community School sent one man to the hospital.

The incident occurred around 12:51 p.m. while a High Springs police officer and Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy were both on the school’s campus assisting the Florida Department of Children and Families with an ongoing investigation, High Springs Police Chief James Troiano said.

Identified as Robert Nodine, 63, of High Springs, a grandparent of at least one of the children involved in that investigation, became irate, police say.  While being escorted off the High Springs Community School Campus, Nodine was reportedly able to arm himself.

“We do know he challenged a deputy sheriff and a police officer,” said Troiano.

The incident escalated and police opened fire on Nodine, he said.  It’s not clear how many shots were fired and if both the deputy and the High Springs police officer fired their weapons.  Only Nodine was injured as a result of the incident, Troiano said.

The shooting reportedly occurred in an area described by Troiano as a “breezeway into the old elementary school office.”

He would not say how many shots were fired or the type of weapon allegedly wielded by Nodine, except in reference to it as a handgun.

The school was in lockdown for much of Wednesday afternoon as deputies restricted access to and from school grounds.

Most of the school’s children had already been released because of an abbreviated Wednesday schedule.  School Board of Alachua County spokesperson Jackie Johnson said some 150 to 175 students remained on campus for after school activities when the shooting occurred.  None of the students were believed to have been directly exposed to the incident.  She said several school staffers may have seen the altercation, including the shooting.

Nodine was taken to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries.  Troiano said Nodine has some criminal history including resisting arrest.  A woman believed to be Nodine’s wife stood on the edge of campus seeking additional information following the shooting.  She later left after making telephone calls to area hospitals for information about his condition.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is conducting an investigation into the shooting including a criminal investigation and a review of the officers’ actions, Troiano said.

Johnson said school would resume as normal Thursday morning.  A team of grief counselors will be on hand to assist any students or staff in dealing with the shooting incident, she said.

An increased police presence will be apparent Thursday morning according to Troiano, who added that it wasn’t because they expected another occurrence, but because they wanted the community to know that the school is a safe place and police are there to help.