JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Duval County School Police are investigating after a stranger driving a blue van attempted to lure a student into a vehicle Friday morning in Jacksonville.
According to a message sent to families from Lone Star Principal Cheryl Quarles-Gaston, the student was walking to school when the incident occurred.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
The child managed to escape safely and arrived at Lone Star unharmed, Quarles-Gaston said.
Quarles-Gaston stressed the importance of student safety both inside the school building and during commutes to and from campus.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
“The safety of our students is always a top priority, whether they are inside the building or traveling to and from school,” Quarles-Gaston said.
School leadership urged parents to review safety precautions and strategies with their children, including using the buddy system, avoiding walking alone, and never approaching strangers in motor vehicles. Quarles-Gaston emphasized that students should never go anywhere with an unknown person, even if offered treats, toys, or pets.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The principal also outlined self-defense guidance if a stranger attempts to grab a student, advising children to drop to the ground, kick, hit, bite and scream. She instructed students to yell specific phrases such as “this is not my dad” or “this is not my mom” to attract attention from bystanders.
Parents were also advised to remind children to try to remember the license plate number if a vehicle follows them and to report the incident immediately to a trusted adult.
Action News Jax has requested the report from JSO to get more information about the incident.
Here is the full message from Quarles-Gaston that was shared with Lone Star families:
“Hello Lone Star Families I am reaching out with an important safety message following a concerning incident that was reported this morning.
“An unknown individual driving a blue van reportedly attempted to lure a student into their vehicle while the student was walking to school. Thankfully, our student was able to get away and arrived safely at school without harm. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and School Police were immediately notified, and an investigation is underway.
“The safety of our students is always a top priority, whether they are inside the building or traveling to and from school. We are incredibly grateful that the student made it to school safely, but I also want to take this opportunity to encourage you to review a few Stranger Danger Tips and strategies with your students to protect them and keep them safe at all times:
• Use the buddy system and avoid walking anywhere alone, whenever you can.
• If a stranger approaches you, you do not have to speak to him or her. Never approach a stranger in a motor vehicle.
• Never go anywhere with someone you do not know, even if they offer you treats, toys, or pets.
• Never walk off with a stranger no matter what he or she tells you.
• If a stranger grabs you, do everything you can to stop him or her from pulling you away or dragging you into his or her car. Drop to the ground, kick, hit, bite, and scream.
• Do whatever it takes to attract the attention of others who can help you. If someone is dragging you away, scream, “this is not my dad,” or “this is not my mom.”
• If someone is following you, try to remember the license plate of the vehicle and immediately tell a trusted adult.
“Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work to keep our students safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school. I hope you and your families have a safe and enjoyable long weekend. Sincerely, Cheryl Quarles-Gaston Principal”
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
