This morning, Harmony Elementary School and Salmon Creek Middle School, which share a common campus in Occidental, were thrown into a state of emergency following a threat made on social media by a parent. The disturbing post prompted school officials to initiate a lockdown at approximately 9:30 a.m., according to the Sonoma Sheriff's Facebook page.
Students and staff remained under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the situation. The campuses, found at 1935 Bohemian Highway, are home to a combined 220 students. Deputies from the River Substation were dispatched to assess the situation after the threat was made public at 8:59 a.m.
Following the incident, a reunification process was coordinated with the Sonoma County Office of Education and the Department of Emergency Management. "The school administration then coordinated with staff from the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, and the Sheriff's Office on a plan to safely reunify students with their families," the Sheriff's Office reported. By 1:00 p.m., all students had been safely connected with their family members, and no injuries were reported.
The investigation has been escalated to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Unit. While specific details are being withheld at this juncture, officials are actively pursuing the suspect, signaling the intensity and seriousness with which they regard any threat to our schools. "Detectives are diligently working to apprehend the suspect; we will provide an update later," the Sheriff's Office stated. The identity of the father who allegedly made the threat remains undisclosed.
