Social media posts threatening school shootings are sending waves of panic through the Westside

Local police and school administrators have been busy responding to viral Tik Tok posts warning of school shootings on Friday, September 13.

While the shooting threats were not credible, that did not mean there was no local impact. The Newman Police Department arrested one suspect for making the online threat, and both the Newman Crows Landing Unified School District and the Gustine Unified School District reported significant drops in school attendance on Friday.

“It’s had a huge impact,” said NCLUSD Superintendent Justin Pruett. “Attendance today is under 50 percent.” Pruett said the majority of absentees came from Yolo and Orestimba High.

“It has been a huge disruption to our students’ education,” said GUSD Superintendent Bryan Ballenger. “About 45 percent of our students dropped out because of these false social media posts.”

The fake messages on social media appear to come from Tik Tok and are now spreading throughout the country.

A message that circulated on local online community forums stated: “There will be a shooting this Friday in Patterson, Gustine, and Newman between 9 and 11 a.m. at the following schools: Apricot Valley Elementary, Las Palmas Elementary School, Northmead Elementary School, Creekside Middle School, Patterson High School, Hurd Barrington Elementary, Von Renner Elementary School, Hunt Elementary, Yolo Middle School, Orestimba High School, Gustine Elementary School, and Gustine High. You are receiving this message as a warning.”

Both the Newman and Gustine police departments were notified of the threats and took action. On Friday, the Newman police department announced that they had made an arrest in the case. The juvenile is charged with making threats to kill or cause serious bodily injury to an individual and making threats to kill or cause serious bodily injury to a government official.

“We have and will continue to have a zero tolerance policy against these types of threats that create fear in our community, and we will pursue prosecution to the full extent of the law,” Newman police said.

NPD also said the incident is a good reminder for parents to closely monitor their children’s social media use.

“Parents, you are encouraged to take this opportunity to talk to your children to educate them about the potential consequences and repercussions of such serious actions,” the department said. “Additionally, you are encouraged to continually monitor your children’s social media activity.”

NCLUSD confirmed that the suspect is a student in the district and that the student did not have the means to carry out the threat.

“We want to inform you that one of our students has been arrested in connection with the recent social media shooting hoax,” the district said in a press release. “Please be assured that our district investigates all potential threats — credible or not — with the utmost seriousness, working closely with law enforcement. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff, and we remain committed to keeping you accurately and promptly informed of any situation that may impact our ability to maintain a safe learning environment. At no time did this student have the ability to actually carry out the threat. The intent was to cause a disruption.

“In an ongoing effort to support a safe school community, we encourage the use of the StopIt app,” NCLUSD said. “This app is a powerful tool for anonymously reporting concerns such as bullying, safety concerns, or inappropriate behavior. The app allows students and community members to submit detailed reports, including text, photos, and videos, directly to school administrators or district staff for thorough investigation. The StopIt app can be easily downloaded to your mobile device and is also available on your child’s district-issued device, providing a convenient way to report concerns at any time.”

“Finally, we want to remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. As adults, we must model the behaviors we want to see in our children, and together we can build a strong sense of confidence in our ability to keep them safe. Trust and collaboration are essential to ensure that the challenges facing our society today do not undermine the strength and potential of our Newman Crows Landing community.”

Sam Joseph, interim Gustine police chief, said two officers remained near the campuses and nothing untoward happened.

Both school districts attempted to allay concerns by posting statements on social media.

“We have recently been made aware of some concerning content circulating on social media,” GUSD wrote in a posted statement. “We have consulted with our local law enforcement and they have determined that this content is not credible. We have been informed that this content is making its way into communities in our area.

“Please be aware that social media can be a source of misinformation. We are also aware of a report claiming a firearm was found on the campus of Gustine High School. After a thorough investigation in partnership with high school administration and the Gustine Police Department, we can assure families that the allegations are false and unfounded. We will remain vigilant and keep families updated as needed via ParentSquare.”

NCLUSD released a similar statement:

“We have recently become aware of some concerning content circulating on social media. After consulting with our local law enforcement department, we have determined that this content is not credible,” the statement said. “It is our understanding that this type of content is finding its way into communities in our area.

“Please be aware that social media can often be a source of misinformation. We can confirm with certainty that the content in question is not related to our students or schools. However, we take all potential threats seriously and continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our school community.

“We kindly ask parents and guardians to talk to their children about responsible online behavior. Sharing such messages can cause unnecessary anxiety and confusion. The most effective way to protect our community is to report troubling content directly to local law enforcement or school officials. Even if messages are hoaxes, they can still be disruptive and upsetting, with serious consequences for those involved.”

The posts also caught the attention of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.

“The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating recent social media posts containing threats against schools in the area, including within our county. Specifically, schools in the city of Patterson have been mentioned. At this time, we have not found any evidence that any of these threats are credible,” the sheriff’s office said on its Facebook page.

“Our highest priority is the safety and security of students, school staff, and the surrounding community. Despite a lack of credibility, we remain vigilant and ask the community to do the same. While we continue to communicate with our allied law enforcement agencies and school districts, we encourage the public to immediately report any suspicious activity or additional threats to law enforcement.

We want to emphasize that we take all threats seriously and will thoroughly investigate any threats brought to our attention. We will work with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute anyone who violates the law. Charges that may be filed against an individual include threats against an educational institution and criminal threats.”