Board member reports early-morning gunshots two blocks from Springstead High; district says notification lapse will be addressed

Mister Johnson, a member of the Hernando County School Board, told colleagues during an informal meeting that he had a recording of gunshots that he said occurred Dec. 6 at about 4:30 a.m., two blocks from Springstead High School on Monarch Avenue near Mariner.

The report matters because timely notification from law enforcement can prompt the district to assign extra school resource officers (SROs) or take other safety measures at nearby campuses.

"That was, gunshots that went off on December 6th, 4:30 in the morning, 2 blocks from Springstead High School on Monarch Avenue off of Mariner, which is the south side of the practice field," Johnson said. He said he had mentioned the incident to Brandon Desperis, who told him the sheriff's department had not notified the district.

Johnson said detectives recovered shell casings around 6:30 a.m. but that district officials and some nearby principals were not informed immediately. "Apparently, the detectives went out, as I understand it, 6:30 in the morning and recovered the casings," he said. "Brandon Desperis is on top of it. He talked to Lieutenant O'Brien who took over from Lieutenant Powers, and we're assured that next time something like this happens, we will be notified."

Johnson also said he understood that the principal at a nearby Christian academy and an adjoining Baptist church were not notified either.

There was no motion or vote during the informal session; board members and staff discussed the notification issue and said the district would follow up with law enforcement. No changes to SRO deployment were announced during the meeting.

The board did not provide a date for when it will report back to members on any new notification protocol or steps taken with the sheriff's office.