Local schools threatened again
Security is tight at Lassen County schools Friday, April 13 following the receipt of more threats against local schools.
According to a statement from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday evening, “multiple Lassen County schools/districts received emails that included threats to commit harm on school campuses. The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, Susanville Police Department, and California Highway Patrol will have increased patrol presence at campuses on the morning of April 13 while the threats were being investigated.”
Patty Gunderson, Lassen County superintendent of schools, said the threat appears similar to the threat received earlier this week.
“The last one was nationwide,” Gunderson said, “and I haven’t heard if this one is nationwide. We’ve been working on it for a couple of hours.”
According to Gunderson and the LCSO, local law enforcement agencies are working with area schools and the Lassen County Office of Education.
“Basically it’s heightened awareness,” Gunderson said. “Most of the schools with have their doors locked, and most of them have been doing that anyway. We’re continuing to be very vigilant and keeping our kids as safe as possible.”
She said the schools and the districts were sending out information to parents.
According to the LSCO statement, “The email information was forwarded to the cyber crime unit of the FBI. It appears that the email address used to send the threats was ‘spoofed’ and the threats are likely a hoax. A similar event happened in the United Kingdom two to three weeks ago.”
Gunderson said she received the threatening email even though she is not at a school.
“Our names are obviously out there,” Gunderson said. “Whoever it is does not seem to be familiar with the actual schools.”
“The safety and security of our schools and children is of the utmost importance, and we take all threats to their safety very seriously,” according to the LCSO statement. “Anyone with information about these or other threats is encouraged to call the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office or Susanville Police Department.”