Threat Targets Casa Grande School Outside Of CA, Petaluma Police Say

PETALUMA, CA — Authorities now believe that a potential threat of violence against Casa Grande High School on June 10 was in reference to a Casa Grande School that is not in California, the Petaluma Police Department said Thursday in an update.

Information about the threat was initially received Wednesday afternoon by Petaluma City Schools, PCS Superintendent Matthew Harris said in a letter to families.

Since then, the Petaluma Police Department’s Investigations Unit has been working diligently with the FBI to identify the suspect, evaluate the credibility of the threat, and assess the safety of the school, Petaluma police Lt. Garrett Glaviano said.

"Based upon the information that has been discovered, we believe the suspect who made the statement was not in California and the reference to Casa Grande School was not Casa Grande High School in Petaluma," Glaviano said.

The law enforcement agency in the appropriate jurisdiction has been notified, and the Petaluma Police Department said it will continue to provide extra patrols to city schools throughout the remainder of the school year.

"The department understands these are trying times for students, parents, and school officials," Glaviano said. "The decision to alert the community last night was not made lightly. With our understanding of the complexities of these types of investigations we were uncertain when the threat could be properly vetted, and we wanted to ensure our community was aware of a potential threat. We continue to collaborate with administrators from both Casa Grande High School and the Petaluma City School District and appreciate their partnership in keeping our students safe."

Letter from Petaluma City Schools Superintendent Matthew Harris:

Dear PCS Families,

The recent threat to the safety of students and staff at Casa Grande is unsettling, stressful, and heartbreaking. I appreciate your support and patience as we navigate this challenging situation.

To be as clear and transparent as possible, this was a threat of gun violence specific to Casa Grande School and specific to June 10, 2022.

Law enforcement, including the Petaluma Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been working non-stop on this threat and we want to thank them for their hard work and diligence.

With that said, I have an update to share with you:

We are relieved to report the following information:

1. Law enforcement has identified the person making the threat is an individual who lives outside of California. Law enforcement in that jurisdiction is working to identify and apprehend the suspect.

2. Law enforcement is confident that the Casa Grande School named in the threat was not related to Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.

At this time, we will continue with all end-of-the-year classes and events. Please know that we are working hand-in-hand with the Petaluma Police Department to continue to have an increased presence of law enforcement around our campuses and at our graduation ceremonies.

Again, to those of you who are feeling overwhelmed and anxious at this moment, we have counselors on call. If you would like to speak with a counselor, please call 707-778-4959 and leave a message and someone will get back to you promptly. In the alternative, you can reach out directly to the school-based mental health counselors who are on-site at every campus supporting students. For community services, we encourage you to reach out to your healthcare center or Petaluma People Services Center.

Our graduating seniors deserve to celebrate such a significant accomplishment together on June 10, especially given all we’ve gone through as a community over these past two years. It is a top priority for Petaluma City Schools that we are able to celebrate with a safe and successful end of the year and commencement ceremony. We remain alert, focused on the safety of our students and staff, and are confident we will come through this challenge safely, together as a community.

Thank you and I wish you all a safe and positive end of the school year.