News

Winship Middle School is on “modified lockdown” after a social media threat was directed at the campus, according to the Eureka Police Department.

In a Facebook post, the department said all students are safe and preliminary information “indicates the threat is not accurate.” Staff at the school received a phone call this morning alerting them to a social media post threatening a shooting at the campus, the EPD states.

“Eureka City Schools is working cooperatively with Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to determine the validity of the threat,” according to the EPD.

Meanwhile, other campuses in Humboldt County’s largest school district “have been notified to be on heightened alert and law enforcement is conducting extra patrols in the areas of our schools,” the EPD states.

Read the Facebook post from the EPD below:

Eureka Police Department just received the following information from Eureka City Schools regarding a possible threat made at Winship Middle School:
This morning Staff at Winship Middle School received a phone call alerting them about a social media post threatening a shooting on the Winship campus today.
All students are safe. Precautionary measures have been put in place and the Winship Campus is on a modified lock down. Eureka City Schools is working cooperatively with Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to determine the validity of the threat.
Preliminary information indicates the threat is not accurate. All school sites within Eureka City Schools have been notified to be on heightened alert and law enforcement is conducting extra patrols in the areas of our schools. As information develops, we will keep you posted.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department release:

On April 4, 2018, at about 8:30 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service at Winship Middle School regarding a threat made over social media towards students.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Police Department and Eureka City Schools are investigating this threat. Preliminary information indicates that there is no imminent threat to the school. Sheriff’s Deputies and Eureka Police Officers will remain on scene as the investigation continues and will be conducting extra patrols in the area of Eureka City Schools.

While this investigation continues, Winship Middle School remains on a modified lockdown. All other school sites within the Eureka City Schools District have been placed on heightened alert.

Anyone with information regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Statement from Eureka City Schools Superintendent Fred Van Vleck:

This morning Staff at Winship Middle School received a phone call alerting them about a social media post threatening a shooting on the Winship campus today. All students are safe. Precautionary measures have been put in place and the Winship Campus is on a modified lockdown. Eureka City Schools is working cooperatively with Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to determine the validity of the threat. Preliminary information indicates the threat is not accurate. All school sites within Eureka City Schools have been notified to be on heightened alert and law enforcement is conducting extra patrols in the areas of our schools. As information develops, we will keep you posted.

Fred Van Vleck, Superintendent