School Lockdown Lifted

Authorities have lifted a lockdown at Seven Springs Middle School and J.W. Mitchell High School that was initiated after a robbery at a nearby shopping plaza.

However, Pasco County Sheriff's deputies are still searching for a man they say robbed the Mitchell Plaza Payless Shoes store in Trinity around 10 this morning.

According to a media release, the suspect entered the 3034 Little Road store and gave the clerk a note. He fled the store westbound on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

The sheriff's office was notified just after 10 a.m. and is now searching for the suspect. The man is said to be armed with a gun. The suspect is described as a black male between 30 and 35 years old. He is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and was last seen wearing a white shirt, black pants and black hat. He is unshaven, slim in build and was wearing sunglasses.

Authorities put Seven Springs Middle and Mitchell High on lockdown after the robbery as a precaution, but Sheriff's office Spokesman Kevin Doll said at 12:19 p.m. that the schools are now operating normally.