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THIRD UPDATE:

This morning’s school lockdowns in Fortuna were prompted by reports from parents that their children had received “a concerning image” that was being circulated on the social media app SnapChat.

The message showed a picture of an assault rifle with the words “getting ready for school.”

According to a Fortuna Police Department release, an investigation was immediately launched and the department received an anonymous call identifying an individual believed to have sent the Snapchat message and indicating the individual was headed to Fortuna High School.

The department then requested the lockdown as a “precautionary measure.”

“The alleged sender was located and detained at a residence in Rio Dell,” the FPD release states. “A Fortuna Police Department detective investigated and found no credible threat associated with the subject and that the SnapChat message was only reposted by the subject. The lock-down was lifted and Fortuna Police Department Detective is continuing to investigate the origin of the SnapChat message.”

Read the full release at the end of the story.



SECOND UPDATE:

Fortuna High School and East Lake High School were briefly on lockdown this morning after receiving a “potential threat,” according to Fortuna High School Principal Clint Duey said in a phone call to parents.


Fortuna Police were on campus during the lockdown, Duey said, and the individual involved has been detained. At least one person reported receiving a photo of an assault rifle with the words “getting ready for school,” according to a Redheaded Blackbelt report, which states it has not confirmed if the incident is related to the school lockdowns.


The lockdown has now been lifted and classes are resuming as “close to normal as possible.” Duey invited parents who were concerned about their child to come to the office and “we will be happy to assist you … .”

UPDATE:

The lockdown has been lifted.

PREVIOUS:

Fortuna High School is currently on lockdown, according to a Fortuna Police Department tweet at 8:42 a.m., which states it is a "precautionary measure." No other information was immediately available.

Lockdown from Fortuna Police Department : Nixle https://t.co/6WWZwPFm3h

— Fortuna Police (@FortunaPolice) May 13, 2019

Release from the Fortuna Police Department:

On Monday morning, May 13, 2019 Fortuna Police Department received phone calls from parents of Fortuna High School students reporting a concerning image circulating on a social media app., SnapChat. The message indicated a potential threat to an unspecified school in an unspecified area. Officers immediately began investigating.

Following the initial reports from parents, The Fortuna Police Department received an anonymous phone call, identifying an individual who they believed sent the Snapchat message and indicating the individual was headed to Fortuna High School.

Based off the facts that the SnapChat message was received by Fortuna High School students and the anonymous caller identified a subject as the sender and reported the subject was in route to Fortuna High School the Fortuna Police Department requested a lock-down at Fortuna High School as a precautionary measure while continuing to investigate.

The Fortuna Police Department received assistance from Rio Dell and Ferndale Police Departments.

The alleged sender was located and detained at a residence in Rio Dell. A Fortuna Police Department Detective investigated and found no credible threat associated with the subject and that the SnapChat message was only reposted by the subject. The lock-down was lifted and Fortuna Police Department Detective is continuing to investigate the origin of the SnapChat message.

The Fortuna Police Department and Fortuna High School take the safety and security of students and school staff very seriously.

We remind our community that it is important to let us know anytime that a message of this nature is received so that a potential tragedy can be prevented.
This case remains under investigation, any further information will be released to the public as it becomes available to us.