FHS Shooting Threat Led To 'Secure School' Lockdown, Deemed Uncredible

PLEASANTON, CA — A student's social media post threatening to "shoot up" Foothill High School in Pleasanton led to a brief "secure school" lockdown Thursday before being deemed uncredible, according to authorities.

School administrators discovered the posting Thursday at approximately 9:30 a.m. and, per school policy in such circumstances, initiated "secure school" procedures and contacted the Pleasanton Police Department, said Patrick Gannon, Pleasanton Unified School District director of communications.

Police investigated the threat, located the student involved, found no threat existed and the "secure school" lockdown was lifted, Gannon said.

"We wanted to let you we had to initiate a secure school this morning at Foothill due to a message that was posted on social media about someone making a comment about shooting up the school," FHS Principal Sebastian Bull said in an email to parents. "We have located the person, and there is no threat to campus."

The "secure school" process directs students and staff to remain in one location, in classrooms or campus offices, differing from a "complete lockdown," initiated for more extreme threats, Bull said.

The age and grade level of the student involved were not released. Any punishment for the offender also was not disclosed.

Gannon said such incidents highlight the gravity and ramifications of social posts with threatening and violent overtones.

"Regardless of intent, what you post on social media can have very real consequences for the student and those around them," he said.

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