Errant Shooting Threat Prompts Closure Of LA County School, Again

Los Angeles CA

27 May, 2022

4:02 PM

Description

ROSEMEAD, CA — Rosemead High School was closed Friday as a precaution after a shooting threat targeting a school with the initials RHS was posted to social media. However, investigators determined the threat was made by a student in Texas and was not intended for the Southern California school. It's not the first time that a nonspecific school threat caused confusion and fear amid a climate of terror in the aftermath of American school shootings. Last year after a mass shooting at a school in Michigan, St. Monica Catholic High School in Santa Monica was shut down following a threat intended for a school in northern California. After the Michigan shooting, a social media threat aimed at Gardena High School prompted a school with the same initials in Gilroy to shut down and a Glendora school to beef up security. That same week, threats prompted evacuations and investigations at Hamilton, Palisades Charter and Fairfax high schools. Tragedies such as this week's elementary school slaughter in Uvalde, Texas, tend to spark copy-cat threats while also placing students, families, school officials and police on edge around the nation. Friday's social media threat apparently targeted a school identified only as "RHS." Rosemead High School was closed as a precaution Friday after the threat circulated on social media and was seen by some Rosemead students, Sgt. Richard Lewis, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Temple Station, told City News Service. Sheriff's detectives investigated and contacted officials in Texas, Lewis said. "There is no threat against Rosemead High School," Lewis said. Lewis said detectives believe the threat, worded as "RHS shooting 5- 27-22," originated in Raymondville, Texas, and was made by a student who was taken into custody there. It was unclear when the threat was first posted, Lewis said, adding that the investigation is continuing. A message sent to the Rosemead campus community on Friday read, in part: "Earlier this morning, the Rosemead administration was informed of an apparent threat. The threat was posted on social media and made reference to a shooting at `RHS' today. The identified threat does not make a direct reference to Rosemead High School." School officials said they immediately notified the sheriff's department. They said the school was closed Friday "out of an abundance of caution." City News Service contributed to this report.