Shooting Threat Against Harper Jr. High Was A 'Prank': Davis PD

DAVIS, CA — Frances Harper Junior High School in Davis was open and classes were in session Monday after a threat about a shooting at the campus was investigated and determined to be a prank, according to officials with the Davis Police Department and the Davis Joint Unified School District.

The district previously notified parents and students that the school would be closed today because of a "targeted and anonymous threat" found on the STOPit app claiming there would be a school shooting Monday, March 5 at Harper.

Sunday night, however, police and school officials said closure of campus was canceled after it was determined the threat, allegedly made by a male student in his early teens, was a prank.

The boy was not immediately arrested in connection with the incident, Davis police officials said in a statement Sunday night.

"The Davis Police Department will continue to work with the school district on this matter to determine appropriate consequences," police said.

Harper Junior High School Principal Kerin Kelleher further addressed the matter.

"At this point in time, all DJUSD schools are open on Monday, March 5, 2018," Kelleher said in a statement. "There are no known threats to any campuses."

Kelleher thanked the Davis Police Department for its "thorough investigation and dedication the safety of Davis students."

"In light of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida and other recent tragedies effective partnerships with the Davis Police Department are more important than ever," Kelleher said.

The potential threat was among several targeting Northern California schools last week. In San Jose, a 12-year-old girl was arrested in connection with a Twitter post allegedly threatening to "shoot up" schools in the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District.

In Sonoma County, a 16-year-old student was arrested after allegedly admitting to writing a threat in a bathroom at Analy High School. Sebastopol police and school officials canceled classes at the campus the day the graffiti message was discovered.

Possible threats against San Jose State University and Lincoln Middle School in Alameda were also investigated last week.

In the East Bay, an 18-year-old student at Olympic High School was arrested for allegedly bringing two loaded guns with him to the Concord campus.

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