DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Friday’s football game between Cocoa and Mainland high schools at Daytona Stadium was delayed after a gun was found at a security checkpoint, according to Daytona Beach police.
A security guard found the firearm around 8 p.m. while checking a bag that belonged to a juvenile male, the Daytona Beach Police Department said Saturday on social media. The guard called over a police officer who secured the bag and tried to detain the juvenile, the post states, adding the juvenile then took off running.
While he was able to avoid immediate capture, two other juveniles with him were apprehended and face charges of resisting arrest after trying to run as well, according to police.
The first juvenile who ran was eventually identified and arrested, police said. He faces charges of possession of a firearm on school property, resisting arrest and theft of a firearm, the post states.
The football game was suspended as a precautionary measure, yet it was allowed to reconvene once the area was checked and deemed safe, police said, opting to have additional units stick around until everyone had left the property. The Cocoa Tigers won the game against the Mainland Buccaneers by a score of 51-0.
In a statement, the police department said it was grateful the situation was resolved without any injuries.
Though the release states the security guard was conducting a routine bag check, Friday’s incident follows the Volusia County School Board’s decision in July to implement rule changes stating anyone present at a district site or event would be subject to randomized screenings.
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