Threats of violence toward local high school deemed ‘unfounded’

By Sara Beth Williams–
Threats of violence on social media allegedly targeting a local high school have been labeled a “hoax,” San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said Thursday.

The Citrus Heights Police Department confirmed on Sept. 12 that information regarding possible threats to school sites began to come in Wednesday night, Sept. 11, but that threats were “vague.” Lt. Bill Dunning with the Citrus Heights Police Department said that officers spent the night contacting “numerous students” and, after investigating the threats, determined that any threats to local school sites “were not credible.”

Dunning said online threats named “Mesa” but did not include the full name of Mesa Verde High School.

“There are numerous schools that begin and end with Mesa,” Dunning said, adding that the San Juan Unified School District Safe Schools team, which has been in contact with the police department, indicated Thursday morning that the threats were “unfounded.”

Dunning said, “out of an abundance of caution,” police presence was increased at Mesa Verde High School on Thursday morning.

In a phone call, Rai said according to the Regional Threat Center, several different social media posts indicated “general threats of violence,” while some posts named school sites, and that it was happening across the region.

“It’s looking like it’s a state and nation-wide hoax circulating on social media channels like Snapchat,” Rai said.

Several parents on social media reported receiving emails from school principals both in Citrus Heights and outside of the city regarding “circulating” social media posts “indicating the threat of school violence at a number of locations.”

An email shared with The Sentinel from Mesa Verde High School said in part, “We are closely monitoring the situation with the district’s Safe Schools team and have no evidence to suggest there is an actionable threat to our school community.”

In the email to parents, the district also encouraged parents and students to consider the “impact and dangers of sharing rumors on social media” and to discuss with students “the importance of reporting any safety concerns to a school staff member or local law enforcement promptly.”