A high school in the city of Santa Ana, California, will remain closed until Friday due to a credible threat to the campus, school authorities reported this Tuesday.
Members of the Mater Dei High School notified Santa Ana police after learning of the threat, according to a letter sent by school president Michael Brennan and principal Frances Clare to parents and guardians, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Security and sweeping protocols were implemented. We recognize the alarming nature of this message. However, at Mater Dei we take all threats against the school seriously,” the letter stated.
Officials said they consulted with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which oversees the school, and agreed to close the campus and cancel activities until Friday, while the police continue to investigate. No further information about the threat has been released so far.
“We wouldn’t close the school for several days if this appeared to be a hoax,” said Allison Bergeron, director of communications for Mater Dei High School. “We are doing this to make sure that our children are safe and that law enforcement has enough time to conduct their investigation.”
The letter stated that school officials are seeking a way to appeal to online education during the last days of instruction, as well as on the dates of final exams, which will be next week. The letter pointed to parents who will be notified of the school’s plans on Wednesday, the Pasadena Star-News noted.
The credible threat to the school of more than 2,000 students occurs exactly one week after the United States was shocked by the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where they died 20 people, including 18 children and two teachers.
After the massacre, Florida underwent two threats that were neutralized by the authorities, after a child from 10 years old, identified as Daniel “M”, sent a text message with an alleged threat to a school, causing him to be arrested by the Criminal Investigations Division of Juvenile Services of the state.
Furthermore, in the same state, an adolescent of 18 years of name Corey Anderson was arrested on Sunday for posting a threat on social media where he appeared with a rifle, a pistol and a tactical vest, writing in the description that he would go to the nearest school. The weapons were pellet guns, the police said.