An eighth-grader at Malibu Middle School is being kept away from the campus while authorities investigate threats he allegedly made against other students, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District confirmed today.
On Monday, the principal of the school, which shares a campus with Malibu High School, sent a letter to parents saying that administrators “received information from a member of our school community that a middle school student possessed a list with student names on it titled, ‘Halloween Hit List.’
“There was never a specified threat; however, we at Malibu High School take these incidents seriously,” the letter read. “We found the student and the list. We have taken appropriate school action and the sheriff’s department is also involved. The student’s parents have cooperated fully with the school and the sheriff’s department. We feel that your children are safe at Malibu MS/HS.”
School district representative Selina Ayala-Patlan said administrators were made aware of the threats on Monday and “notified the parents of the students who were allegedly threatened, as well as teachers who have the student in class.”
“The student has been removed from the MHS campus until authorities and district officials determine whether he can return,” she said. “Counseling is being made available, as needed, for MHS students.”
Ayala-Patlin said she could not confirm a broadcast report that the student was arrested, referring calls to the sheriff’s department. A sheriff’s representative was not immediately available for comment.
Superintendent Sandra Lyon said the district’s “teachers and staff are trained to have a heightened awareness of students’ emotional health. I’m pleased that our teachers and administrators were able to address this issue and provide the students the support they need.”
She added: “The district takes all matters related to student safety very seriously. The situation is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. As a school district, we must support the needs of the individual student, while also being vigilant in our efforts to promote a safe learning environment for our entire student body.”
