Hundreds of concerned parents descended on Taft High School in Woodland Hills following a social media threat that spurred panic and a significant police response on Tuesday. Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to the school early in the morning as the post circulated online, with students held inside classrooms till authorities deemed the situation safe. "The way of the world today is so dangerous. It doesn't matter what city you live in anymore, the danger is present everywhere," Ron Blum, a parent, told CBS News Los Angeles.
Despite the lack of an early dismissal or lockdown, Sky5 captured footage of parents gathering outside the school. An anonymous Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson assured that "At this point, there is no evidence of a credible threat", as reported by KTLA 5. However, student accounts told a different story. An Instagram account dubbed ‘@taftcaughtslippin’ had issued a dire warning for the school's occupants. According to a KTLA 5 interview with freshman Evan Olivares, the post showed "a guy with a gun" who cautioned, "Be careful…I’m going to come on Tuesday and just shoot everyone."
Amidst the chaos, some students elected to escape, scaling fences out of an abundance of caution. Sasha Kogan, another parent, expressed a resolve not to take risks, stating to CBS News Los Angeles, "I didn't want to take the risk, so I was going to pick them up either way. There is another post about tomorrow, so I am probably not going to send them to school" The investigation initiated by LAPD and school police is ongoing, and authorities have decided to keep classes in session while promising additional patrols in and around the school for heightened security.
The district has reached out to remind parents and students of the vital importance of reporting any concerning behavior or statements. They advised to reach out directly to the school's staff or the Los Angeles School Police Department’s communication center at 213-625-6631, to ensure that such threats are taken seriously and investigated immediately.
