Meadowbrook Middle School in Poway spent part of this week on lockdown after a string of threatening messages and a social media video triggered a campus-wide search and the detention of a student, according to officials.
The scare began early Tuesday when school staff received an email claiming a bomb had been placed on campus. Parents later alerted authorities to a video circulating on social media that appeared connected to the threats. Deputies locked down the school, searched classrooms and common areas, and turned away students who had not yet arrived. The campus was eventually cleared and regular classes resumed after investigators reported finding no explosives.
According to reporting, the email about a bomb arrived around 7 a.m. Tuesday, and administrators said a separate threatening message had been sent the previous night. Parents contacted the Poway Sheriff's Station after seeing the social media clip that seemed tied to those posts, and investigators began working to trace the account that posted the video, as reported by 10News.
By Wednesday, deputies had contacted and detained a Meadowbrook student on suspicion of making criminal threats. Detectives also served a search warrant at the youth's home, where they reported finding evidence that suggested the student created the video alone. Deputies and ATF units brought in explosives-detection K-9 teams to comb the campus, and after an extensive sweep, officials said no explosives were found and the lockdown was lifted. “There is currently no threat to Meadowbrook Middle School students or staff,” the sheriff's department said, as reported by FOX 5 San Diego.
Investigation and safety context
Meadowbrook is no stranger to safety scares. Previous incidents at the school led deputies to step up patrols and prompted administrators to bring in counselors for students and families. Local reporting by 10News detailed earlier “hit list” cases that resulted in law enforcement and school leaders notifying the students named and increasing on-campus supervision. That recent history helps explain why multiple agencies moved so quickly when this week's threats and video surfaced.
What officials say parents should do
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information about threats to contact school resource deputies or call the anonymous Crime Stoppers Student Speaking Out tip line at (888) 580-8477, or the Sheriff's non-emergency line at (858) 868-3200. The department also reminded students that “if they hear any threats of violence, they can always approach our School Resource Deputies,” and encouraged families to share any tips directly with investigators. For that guidance, see the Sheriff's public notice regarding school threats.
Next steps
Authorities say the investigation is still active, and the Poway Unified School District has told families it will share updates as they become available. Parents looking for official notices or resources can check the Meadowbrook Middle School website for bulletins and contact information.
