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Six Santa Barbara County Schools Targeted with Threats This Month, Per Public Reports
A collaboration between Santa Barbara Unified School District, Santa Barbara Police Department, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is at the forefront of addressing a recent spike in social media-based threats directed at local schools. Officials report an extraordinary increase in such threats nationally as well.
Authorities describe the spread of rumors and threats online as emotionally taxing for the community and problematic for real-time threat assessment efforts. They emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity directly through official channels rather than reposting it, which can amplify unwarranted fear.
The Santa Barbara Unified has adopted the CrisisGo platform to expedite real-time reporting directly to district leaders, ensuring swift action and communication.
In response to these threats, local law enforcement has increased its presence in schools and is engaging in thorough investigations to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Santa Barbara Police Chief Kelly Gordon stressed the seriousness with which this issue is treated: “The safety of our students and the staff at these schools is of the utmost importance. We are actively investigating each post and contacting each person who posted to determine the credibility of the threat.”
Sheriff Bill Brown added, “When it comes to social media threats, report—don’t repost. We will investigate every threat to determine if it is credible and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of our schools.”
Dr. Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent of Santa Barbara Unified, highlighted the need for community cooperation and responsible communication, particularly urging parents to educate their children about the impact of their online behavior. “It is no different than yelling ‘fire’ or ‘bomb’ in a movie theater. Saying or threatening violence that is not real will have severe consequences. Let them know to share with you and the adults at school instead of their friends.”
The joint message from Santa Barbara’s educational and law enforcement leadership is clear: prioritize reporting over reposting, cooperate with the authorities, and contribute to maintaining safe educational environments.
As Chief Gordon warned, those found to be making or spreading threats may face severe legal and educational consequences.
These may include:
- Criminal Charges (422 PC-Criminal Threats, 653.2(a) PC-Online Threats)
- School disciplinary actions, potentially including suspension or expulsion
- Long-Term Consequences: Making threats can affect a student’s future, including their ability to attend college, gain employment, or participate in other opportunities.
This concerted effort reflects a unified stance against violence and misinformation, striving to protect the community’s well-being amidst the challenges posed by digital platforms. Everyone is encouraged to remember, “If you see something, say something.”
Santa Maria High School was the Latest Target
In September alone, Santa Barbara County has seen six public threats to local schools.
The most recent incident took place on Thursday, September 19, shortly after midnight in Santa Maria. The Santa Maria Police Department was notified by the FBI of a potential threat to Santa Maria High School that was circulating on social media.
With the assistance of the FBI, patrol officers began to investigate the post by contacting the involved student, a 14-year-old juvenile, and conducting searches to determine the validity of the threat. It was later determined that the photograph used in the post was recirculated from Google and was not taken by the student.
After a thorough investigation, all involved parties were contacted and determined there was no credible threat against the school.
Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Orcutt Junior High in Orcutt, Jonata Middle School in Buellton, an unnamed Santa Maria School all received threats this month, per authorities.
Threats of Violence at Schools Increase Nationwide
This is an alarming trend that taking place nationwide, specifically after a teenager opened fire at a rural Georgia high school and killed two teachers and two classmates this month.
As most schools in the United States are only one month into the school year, schools are receiving an influx of gun threats on campus with some of these threats involving the confiscation of firearms from students on campus.
During the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 64% of violent incidents and threats to schools tracked by the Educator’s School Safety Network “were false reports of an active shooter within the school.”
“This is the grim reality of ‘guns everywhere’ culture: when state policy ensures the absence of gun safety laws, the consequences are deadly,” states advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.
An estimated 4.6 million American children live in homes where at least one firearm is kept loaded and unlocked.
“We’re clearly experiencing a crisis despite there being such obvious methods of prevention, chief among them being that all gun owners simply secure their firearms in their homes and cars,” said Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Senior Advisor at Everytown for Gun Safety.
A 2023 study backed by Everytown for Gun Safety lays out research-backed approaches for creating safer schools and ending gun violence that combine school-based interventions with strong gun safety laws.
Related Articles
UPDATE: Threat Investigation at Orcutt Junior High as More School Violence Reported at SBUnified
Lockdown Lifted at San Marcos High School Following Gun Report
Detectives Investigate Jonata Middle School, Deem No Credible Threat Made
Santa Maria Police and FBI Investigate Threat to Local School
If you want to stop this behavior the local and federal agencies need to prosecute and take the actions listed.
Criminal Charges (422 PC-Criminal Threats, 653.2(a) PC-Online Threats)
School disciplinary actions, expulsion.
Then publicize the threat and the action that was taken. Hand it out to each student at all schools and make the parents sign it and return to schools.
Until there are consequences for bad behavior these types of incidents will continue.
They communicate the consequence to students and parents and they do discipline accordingly which includes suspensions and could lead to expulsions. This has not stopped reckless threats. One of the big ideas of this news story is that those who repost rumors rather than simply report, exacerbate the problem greatly. I’ve seen this happens where a post is made in a different area, but someone reposts it in our area (then spreads) and it becomes a threat to our local schools. Changing the public’s urge to repost everything would be helpful in lessening this type of behavior.
Makes sense. It’s absurd how wrapped up some adults and too many kids are these days in social media. Reposting? Stupid ass stuff. Get a life. Talk to your friends. Problem solved.
I suppose that helps explain your many problems.
So simple, right? LOL. Most kids I know (including mine) are at school with friends all day, then playing sports with friends all afternoon, then hanging out with friends all weekend, but guess what? They still go online for a few seconds a day and sometimes, some of them (thankfully none I know) do dumb stuff and click a button to repost or share something stupid.
Kids, especially young teens, aren’t known for always, 100% of the time making the best choices. Doesn’t make them “stupid” or in need of “a life.”
Problem not even close to being solved.
It’s time to publicize the names of criminals who happen to be minors. Maybe then their parents will start parenting.
If the name of the minor cannot be identified, list the name of the involved parent(s).