Classes are scheduled to resume today at Mira Costa High School, which has been closed the past two days due to anonymous threats posted on the Yik Yak social messaging app.
Manhattan Beach police said Wednesday they have identified a girl believed to be responsible for at least one of the postings on the site. The girl, who is not a student at the school or any other Manhattan Beach Unified School District campus, was interviewed but was not arrested, according to Officer Stephanie Martin.
Martin said police are trying to determine if other people were involved in the postings, which led to the school being closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Police said the postings began with vague and non-specific messages on Monday, but then became more threatening.
Students are scheduled to return to the campus at 1401 Artesia Blvd. today, but under stepped-up security. Students will be directed to one of four entry points to the campus, and they’re being encouraged not to bring bags or backpacks.
Students who do bring bags or backpacks were advised to arrive early and be prepared to be searched.
During class times, students will only be allowed out of classrooms if they are with their teacher, heading to or from a restroom with a hall pass or moving to another campus destination with a written pass, according to the school.
Counselors will be on the campus throughout the day.
The school was placed on lockdown for about an hour Monday, and security was stepped up, following the first anonymous threat on Yik Yak.
The post read, “If you go to Costa you should watch out very closely at school today,” police said.
On Monday night, police — in consultation with Dale — notified parents that classes would be canceled Tuesday, after a second threat was posted, with the author indicating that Monday was just a “drill.”
The last in the series of missives issued via the social media site Monday night came shortly before 9 p.m., warning that most high school shooters had issued warnings before carrying out their threats, but no one ever noticed.
Martin pointed out that while the initial message did not seem so explicitly threatening, the last one could easily be interpreted that way.
Tuesday’s campus closure also forced cancellation of a planned scholar breakfast and all athletic and other after-school activities.
