Unsubstantiated shooting threats made to San Diego schools, police say

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A flurry of unsubstantiated shooting threats involving San Diego schools have been made over the last two days, police said on Wednesday.

The threats, which were made to elementary, middle and high schools across the city, have originated from “various sources” and were often vague, containing no specific information, according to San Diego Police Captain Juan Sanchez.

Among the schools impacted was Dana Middle School, who sent out a letter to families obtained by FOX 5/KUSI on Tuesday that notified them of the shooting threat.

According to Principal John Bosselman, the threat was made in a TikTok post that included a list of hundreds of schools across the country, saying they were “next” — presumably a reference to the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia last week.

Many of the threats reported to SDPD over the last week were in the form of these “school hit lists” with constantly changing details, according to Sanchez, mirroring a nationwide uptick in online statements where users make baseless promises to target schools.

Immediately after they were made aware, state and federal officials began looking into the threats, Sanchez said. Currently, none have been validated, although investigations remain ongoing for each.

The impacted schools were also notified and Sanchez said threat protocols and precautions were initiated in response to the statements. Additional patrol officers were also added to the schools where threats were received.

Further details about the threats, including the number received and the schools named, have not been provided by law enforcement.

SDPD is urging anyone with information regarding these school threats to contact the department at 619-531-2000 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stopper sat 888-580-8477.

The shooting threats against schools in the city of San Diego come after Chula Vista police confirmed the arrest of a 12-year-old Bonita Vista Middle School student on suspicion of fabricating shooting threats that circulated through texts and social media early in the week.

The incident, which appears to be related to the threats directed to San Diego schools, stoked panic among the Sweetwater Union High School District schools mentioned in the threats. The alarm led some parents at schools like Rancho Del Rey Middle to pick up their students early.

Between both the Chula Vista and San Diego threats, authorities and school administrators are urging families to remind their students about the importance of reporting anything they believe might compromise safety to an adult — whether that is a school staff member or a parent.

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