TikTok threat that named two Woodland schools was false, classes stay open Thursday

Classes at two Woodland schools went on as scheduled Thursday after social media threats targeting the campuses were deemed false.

Woodland police investigated the TikTok threats against Gibson Elementary and Douglass Middle School that first surfaced late Wednesday and again early Thursday. Police also beefed up patrols there and at other Woodland Joint Unified School District campuses Thursday, a police spokeswoman said.

Two days after Tuesday’s mass shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead at a Texas elementary school — one of the most deadly school shootings in the nation’s history — Woodland authorities were taking no chances.

“We cannot ignore that the tragic events in Texas have left many of us on edge,” Woodland police said in the post.

But district officials in a statement Thursday said the threats were determined to be unfounded.

Woodland police “immediately launched an investigation and determined that there was no reason to believe that our students or schools were at risk,” district Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin said.

Gibson and Douglass schools remained open with counselors available at the sites through the day.

In a post to parents and students on its website Wednesday in the wake of the Texas shootings, Ortega-Lampkin said her district is “committed to the safety of our schools. The recent violence is an important reminder of the continued work needed to make sure our community is safe and inclusive for everyone.”

The superintendent’s message also contained links for district parents on how to talk with their children about school shootings and information on district mental health services.

Reported threat ‘debunked’ in Elk Grove

Meanwhile, police in Elk Grove were probing a reported threat made to Fortune Charter School that was later debunked.

“The involved students and their families were contacted by our officers and it was deemed that there was no credible threat,” department officials said.

Fortune officials were quick to report the threat Wednesday and joined police in their investigation, Elk Grove police said on its social media.