The “disgruntled” ex-husband of a Florida school teacher shot and killed himself in front of the rear entrance to Farnell Middle School as dozens of students were arriving for an early start program.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said that two students a few feet behind 52-year-old Jason Layman saw the shooting.

“They didn’t panic, they endured, they fought through their own trauma … was worried about what was occurring here. Is it an active shooter? They didn’t know if it was a suicide or what was happening,” the sheriff said.

Chronister said the two ran to school authorities, who contacted law enforcement and put the school on lockdown. Deputies were nearby and were on the scene in seconds. The two students have been meeting with grief counselors.

The sheriff, who said about 34 students were at the school at the time of the shooting, described Layman as “a disgruntled divorced husband and maybe this was his last act of defiance. He wanted to come and prove a point to his ex-wife who is a school teacher.”

Chronister said Layman did not attempt to enter the school.

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