Aliso Niguel Shooting Threat Ruled A Prank, OCSD Says

ALISO VIEJO, CA — There wasn't much learning going on at Aliso Niguel High School Friday, according to a local mom, after a shooting threat made online was ruled unfounded by officials. A spokesman from the Orange County sheriff's investigators believe Thursday's online threat of an impending school shooting Friday at Aliso Niguel High School was nothing more than a prank, Ray Grangroff of the OCSD said.

Aliso Viejo mom Lisa Naegle sent her children to school, knowing that they needed to be there.

"My son said ten out of 35 showed up for his first period class," "Naegle said. "My other is a little more dramatic and said there were 'like 85 kids' on campus. I have complete faith in the school, the district and the police and know they would do anything and everything possible to keep our kids safe."

"We're not thinking it is a credible threat, but we're investigating it out of an abundance of caution," said Grangroff.

The anonymous threat was posted online, and school officials became aware of it about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, said Ryan Burris, a spokesman for Capistrano Unified School District.

Officials have not revealed where the threat was posted online.

"We operated as normal other than just having more uniforms and law enforcement personnel on campus," Burris said.

If anything, the posted threat most likely only affected attendance, Burris said. Parents took to social media to share the message from the principal and discuss whether or not students would attend. While many did go to school, a large number of students opted to remain home.

"We're working with law enforcement and sending communications to families to let them know law enforcement believes the threat is not credible, but we want to make sure our families have the information," Burris said.

The threat is similar to one last month that targeted Anaheim and Buena Park high schools. A 14-year-old freshman at Western High School was arrested for making a threat through an Instagram post.

Photo: Zule Hung, courtesy