Police Charge Man After School Lockdown

A Miami-Dade County Police Helicopter circles over the Key Biscayne K-8 Center during a school lockdown, Aug. 29, 2019. Police say the lockdown was triggered any a man with a pellet rifle who was shooting iguanas outside the school. (Key News/Tony Winton)

Police charged a Key Biscayne man with disorderly conduct for allegedly using a pellet rifle to shoot iguanas Aug. 29 near the island’s main school building. 

Dozens of officers responded to reports of a person with a rifle near the Key Biscayne K-8 Center. The school – and all others on the island – were placed on lockdown, causing anxious parents to race to the scene.

Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press said Eric Schott, 57, was charged with one count of disorderly conduct. “He is a very embarrassed and humble citizen who made a huge mistake, a mistake that could have cost him his life.” 

Schott was released after a promise to appear. Press said Schott admitted he had been using a pellet rifle to shoot iguanas. Schott did not return a call for comment. 

PTA President Patricia Agostino praised school administrators, teachers and police for a swift response. 

“They did an amazing job, they kept everyone safe. I have a 4th-grader who was hiding under a desk,” she said. 

Press said the response “proved the value of the training we do,” noting by the time officers from off-island arrived at the scene, the Key Biscayne department had been onsite for 15 minutes, had locked down the school and had discovered the subject. 

“I could not have been prouder,” he said. 

Agostino said the only concern she had was about communications to parents, who were bombarded with information from WhatsApp chats.

“There is always the anxiety of knowing what’s happening,” she said, but added she understands administrators don’t have time to be answering phones in a crisis.