LONG BEACH, CA — A middle school student at Marshall Academy of the Arts shared a detailed pipe-bomb recipe with classmates in a group chat and suggested they blow up the school last month.
Though the threat was investigated by police, students and parents never received any communication about the threat from the district.
By comparison, a recent threat at Woodrow Wilson High School where a student brought a gun to school prompted officials to notify parents and lock the campus down. According to the Long Beach Police Department, that boy was detained by school security. School districts across the Southland frequently warn students and parents when a threat circulates on social media.
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An investigation into the threat was conducted and deemed non-credible, according to the Long Beach Police Department. The investigation was promptly closed.
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The threat was made on February 18.
“Guys, hear me out, on Tuesday we should bring nitrogen bombs in our backpack and then we should blow up the school,” the student texted in the group chat, according to screenshots.
The Long Beach Unified School District defended the decision not to notify families about the threat or disciplinary action — if there was any.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority, and we take every incident seriously,” A LBUSD spokesperson told Patch. “While schools do need to communicate with parents regarding threat incidents, it’s important to clarify that each situation is unique and is handled accordingly without ever compromising the safety of students and staff
“Incidents are promptly investigated as soon as they are reported to school administration, and we work closely with LBUSD School Safety and local law enforcement to assess the credibility of any potential threats. Disciplinary consequences are applied when students engage in behavior that is against the school’s code of conduct. Long Beach Unified remains committed to fostering a safe, secure and positive learning environment for every student.”
According to Long Beach Unified School District Guidelines for Parents and Students, a student may be suspended or transferred to another school or expelled for making “terroristic threats” against school officials or school property.
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