May 23, 2025

Weapons Found at Jacksonville School: Substitute Teacher Arrested

News Summary

A former substitute teacher was arrested at Southside Estates Elementary School for possessing multiple weapons, including a short-barreled gun. Following a report from a school employee, law enforcement discovered a firearm in the teacher’s vehicle along with ammunition and a knife. Although there were no weapons found inside the school, the incident raised serious safety concerns, leading to the teacher’s permanent ban from the district. Principal Dowdell-Brown emphasized the importance of safety and the need to review hiring protocols to prevent future incidents.

Jacksonville, Florida – Abdiel Alexander Badillo-Martinez, a 29-year-old former substitute teacher, was arrested on Tuesday at Southside Estates Elementary School. He faces several serious charges, including possession of a short-barreled gun, rifle, or machine gun, as well as carrying a concealed weapon or firearm on school grounds.

The situation unfolded around 9 a.m. when a school employee reported to the school safety officer that Badillo-Martinez had mentioned he was homeless and stored his firearm in his car because he had no other place for it. The employee, who had previously assisted Badillo-Martinez in unlocking his vehicle on campus, noticed a firearm lying on the floorboard. Following school policy, the employee informed Badillo-Martinez that firearms are prohibited on school property.

After receiving the report, school security personnel and a police sergeant initiated an investigation. During this time, Principal Teresa Dowdell-Brown communicated with parents about the situation, ensuring them that students were evacuated from the building and that movement throughout the school was being restricted.

Upon searching Badillo-Martinez’s vehicle, law enforcement uncovered multiple weapons, a considerable quantity of ammunition, and a knife. Although it was confirmed that Badillo-Martinez was not armed while in the classroom or within the school building, Principal Dowdell-Brown emphasized that having firearms on school property is illegal and poses a serious safety risk.

As a result of this incident, Badillo-Martinez has been permanently banned from working in any Duval County Public School. Records show he had prior misdemeanor charges, including marijuana possession and driving without a license. Such convictions typically disqualify individuals from employment within the school district, particularly if they have two misdemeanor convictions within a five-year period.

Duval County Public Schools employs a substitute teacher provider, ESS, which is responsible for performing background checks on potential hires. These checks include fingerprinting through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI to ensure the safety and security of students. In light of the recent incident, there are questions about the hiring protocols and how this individual was allowed to serve in a school environment.

Principal Dowdell-Brown expressed concern regarding the delay in reporting the concern about the weapon and assured the community that this matter is being reviewed by human resources to prevent similar incidents in the future. She reiterated that ensuring the safety and security of students is the top priority for the school.

As investigations continue, the Southside Estates Elementary School community remains shaken by the event. Parents are being informed of ongoing safety measures being put in place to protect their children and to prevent similar situations in the future.

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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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