Santa Paula schools put on brief lockdown due to 'unverified' threat

Santa Paula and Renaissance high schools were briefly put on lockdown Tuesday afternoon as police investigated a threat, officials said. 

The lockdowns were implemented as a precautionary measure, said Ed Cora, superintendent of the Santa Paula Unified School District. 

The threat happened off campus, Cora said. The district posted a message on its Facebook page informing parents of the lockdown shortly after 3:30 p.m. The district said students and staff were safe. 

By 4:07 p.m., Cora told The Star the lockdowns had been lifted and students were being released. 

Ikani Taumoepeau, assistant city manager and spokesman for the Santa Paula Police Department, said the threat was “unverified” but made toward Santa Paula High School. 

Taumoepeau said a current student heard about the “threat” at the school from another student. Police tracked down the information and confirmed it was not credible, he said. 

Cora said nearby Renaissance High was on lockdown due to its proximity. 

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Megan Diskin is a courts and breaking news reporter with The Star. Reach her at megan.diskin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0258.