Tampa Police say a bullet found on the floor of a school bus Monday morning fell out of an 18-year-old’s pocket.
Police say the Wharton High School student came forward Monday afternoon and told the school resource deputy that he had found the bullet in his apartment complex on the way to the bus.
Apparently, he had placed it in his pocket and it fell out on the bus without his knowledge, police say.
The incident gave some parents a scare.
"I was like so worried," said Edith Pena, a parent. "I'm like oh my God, channel news 9 is out here so something's going on. So, I'm all worried now. I'm like is my daughter okay?”
"My wife and I were considering just keeping my daughter out this week just out of fear and we talked to her and we thought this is the right thing to do and then this is happening,” said Kevin Cordes, a parent.
The bus in question dropped off students at New Tampa's Liberty Middle, Turner Elementary and Wharton High schools. Officials interviewed students who rode the bus and searched backpacks and lockers.
At 12:30 p.m., school officials said Liberty Middle and Wharton High were cleared by law enforcement officers, saying no additional ammunition or weapons were found.
Because the schools were located in different jurisdictions, both the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Tampa Police Department were involved in the investigation.
Principals were directed to keep all doors locked, including the doors into the administration offices, which, in most schools, are normally not locked.
The student is not expected to face charges.
There will be increased security at all Hillsborough County schools the rest of the week as a precaution. Monday's modified lockdown was already in place before the bullet was found on the bus.