Just four days after a false threat of a shooting at Santa Cruz High School forced a lockdown order and eventual evacuation, the school again ordered its students to shelter in place briefly after someone reported another shooting.
This one also turned out to be a hoax, Santa Cruz City Schools Superintendent Kris Munro stated in a letter to parents. She added that the person who made the latest threat is in police custody.
“We are all saddened that anyone would make a false threat to upset our school community, but I am grateful for the additional district staff and members of law enforcement who were on campus today,” Munro stated. “This time not to evacuate, but to supervise, support and reassure.”
Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke identified the suspect as a juvenile male who is not a SCHS student. Blaschke said he was charged with criminal threats, and the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office.
Immediately after discovering an online threat, SCHS notified the police and initiated a shelter-in-place order for about an hour until authorities determined the threat was unsubstantiated.
“There was never a credible threat to any Santa Cruz City Schools,” Blaschke said.
The arrest is not related to the threat reported at SCHS on Oct. 27, which is still under investigation. Santa Cruz Police evacuated SCHS on Thursday after someone threatened a shooting, which prompted lockdown orders at several SCCS schools.
“Santa Cruz Police takes school threats seriously, and detectives investigate school threats immediately,” Blaschke said. “Schools must be safe places for students, and the safety of students is a priority. There is currently no threat to schools in our area, and students can feel safe attending school.”
