Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 12/5/2023, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received numerous telephone calls throughout the school day regarding separate threatening reports. The different reports included a male subject on campus with a gun, a male subject who placed a bomb in the back parking lot, and a male subject who was going to start shooting. The high school went on lockdown on each occasion and remained in lockdown while law enforcement conducted a protective sweep and subsequent investigation. Deputies searched the school (interior and exterior) but were unable to locate anyone with a gun and/or anybody who looked suspicious. It was determined the school was safe and the school came out of lockdown after each occasion. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their assistance.

Similar calls indicating an active threat to McKinleyville High School were received by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday 11/28/2023 and Wednesday 11/29/2023.  Each call initiated a prompt and complete law enforcement response with a thorough canvassing of the premises, internally and externally concluding there was not an active threat.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the source of the threat(s) and working closely with the FBI to bring safe resolution to these reported incidents.  

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.