Local Police Investigate Social Media Threat Directed Towards Santa Maria High Thursday

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – School officials and local law enforcement investigated a social media threat towards a local high school Thursday.

According to the Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District, administrators at Santa Maria High were informed about a threat on social media involving their campus and local police were contacted to investigate.

The threat was not specific to any particular person or group, but was directed towards Santa Maria High noted the Santa Maria Police Department when contacted by Your News Channel.

The school district added that students nor staff were ever in any direct danger and the staff at their district offices take every threat as serious.

"If you see something suspicious on social media, please report it and don’t repost it," asked Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District Public Information Officer Kenny Klein Thursday. "The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority."

The latest threat comes after deputies investigated a social media-based threat against Orcutt Academy High School on Friday, Aug. 21, and on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Your News Channel reported that earlier the same month, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office investigated a threat towards a north county school which resulted in the recovery of explosives.

Both investigations involved local juveniles making threats online towards a local school as well as requests from law enforcement that if you see a threat online, you are asked to report it to law enforcement or a school administrator as soon as possible.

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