Pasco Sheriff’s Office deputies rushed to River Ridge High School in New Port Richey on Monday after an anonymous bomb threat, which officials say is believed to be a swatting call, set the school’s active-threat plan into motion. Staff followed that plan while deputies carried out room-by-room searches and worked with school officials to keep students and employees safe as the investigation continues.
According to the Pasco Sheriff's Office, deputies are required to clear each room on campus under the active-threat protocol and are coordinating closely with facility staff to safeguard everyone on site. The agency noted that the threat is believed to be a swatting call and said the investigation remains ongoing, with no suspect details released.
Pasco Sheriff's Office deputies are investigating an anonymous bomb threat—believed to be a swatting call—made towards River Ridge High School in New Port Richey. PSO is actively on scene and coordinating with the facility to ensure the safety of all students and staff. https://x.com/i/status/2046240265074032856
This is not the first scare on the River Ridge campus this year. Deputies previously cleared both the middle and high school after a bogus weapon tip in February that was later ruled a hoax. That earlier sweep underscored how fast administrators and law enforcement are forced to mobilize when any threat comes in, even when it ultimately proves false, as reported by a bogus weapon tip in February.
What swatting means and why it is dangerous
Swatting is the deliberate reporting of a false emergency, often a bomb or active-shooter threat, to trigger an armed response by law enforcement. The Justice Department has prosecuted serial swatters in multiple cases and described the calls as dangerous and a drain on public resources; one high-profile federal case involved hundreds of hoax threats and guilty pleas, according to the Justice Department. Florida has also taken steps to toughen penalties for swatting, including prison time and restitution requirements, per reporting by WCTV.
How schools and families are advised to respond
Schools rely on written active-threat procedures that call for sheltering students, conducting systematic room-by-room searches and communicating with families, typically in coordination with school resource officers and district staff. Per the Pasco Sheriff's Office Parent Help Guide, school resource officers and school safety guardians are central to those responses, and parents are urged to follow official district messages for updates. Families can also find local notices and contact information on the school’s website at River Ridge High School.
Investigators say the probe remains active and are asking anyone with information about the threat to contact law enforcement. Officials note that additional updates will be shared as new information becomes available.
