Chaos unfolded at Collins Elementary in North Long Beach this morning when a threatening call sent students and staff into a frenzy of fear, leading to an urgent evacuation. According to LB Post, the Long Beach Police Department was alerted at 8:16 a.m about a potential threat to the school. The premises were subsequently placed on lockdown during an awards assembly, as students were ushered out of their gathering spaces and classrooms.
In an anxious bid to protect the young, authorities detained an individual under suspicion at the school, but the person was quickly released. LBPD spokesperson Allison Gallagher illuminated this during an email exchange, saying that the threat was eventually determined to be unfounded. A thorough sweep of the campus at 6125 Coke Avenue confirmed its safety, and the officers deduced the incident as a "swatting" call, a dangerous hoax meant to draw an intense police response. Thus was the community rattled, left to contend with the stark reality of a false alarm woven into their day that should have been marked with celebration.
The Paramount Unified School District, which has jurisdiction over Collins Elementary located near Downing Avenue and Harding Street, addressed Colt families promptly. Their Facebook page consoled worried parents: "Students were safe at all times and we thank you for your partnership." Teachers resumed their duties by afternoon, and normality was wrested back from the jaws of potential calamity.
This morning, officers responded to Collins Elementary regarding a report of a subject who made threats to the school. The threat was determined to be non-credible. No injuries were reported. As a precaution, officers conducted a safety sweep of the campus. pic.twitter.com/eTePlMcpbj
— Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) March 25, 2024
Despite the swift resolution, the incident underscores the disruptive impact that such hoax calls can have on schools. The Long Beach Police took to Twitter to detail their response to Collins Elementary's disruptive morning. The community breathed an collective sigh of relief as it was assured that the threat was non-credible and the safety of its children was never compromised. Yet in the hearts of many, the unease stirs—a reminder that the sanctity of schools remains vulnerable to the whims of faceless callers who deal in the currency of fear.
