From Ventura Police Department
Incident: Bomb and Shooting Threat – Hoax with Arrests
On May 2, 2025, at approximately 12:42 pm, the Ventura Police Department received a call from school administrators at Ventura High School reporting they had received a threat of a bomb and a potential shooting on campus. School staff immediately placed the campus on lockdown and called 9-1-1.
Officers quickly arrived on scene, secured the perimeter, and began searching for any credible threats while students and staff remained sheltered in place. During the course of the investigation, police traced the origin of the threatening phone call to the cell phone of a student who was on campus.
Further investigation revealed three students were possibly involved in making the threatening calls. Officers, in collaboration with school staff, located and detained all three students on campus for further investigation. After gathering all relevant facts, officers determined that two of the students were responsible for making the false threat. Both were arrested for criminal threats, false report of a bomb, and conspiracy to commit a crime, and were booked at Juvenile Hall. The third student was found not to have committed a crime and was released to a parent.
The Ventura Police Department urges parents to speak with their children about the seriousness of making false threats. These types of hoaxes cause unnecessary fear and disruption for students, staff, and families, drain emergency resources, and can result in significant criminal consequences for those involved.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Ventura Police Department at 805-650-8010.
The following message was sent to all Ventura High School staff and families through ParentSquare:
Dear Ventura High School Families, we want to provide a full follow-up regarding Friday’s incident that resulted in a three-hour lockdown at Ventura High School. The school received a phone call reporting both a bomb and shooting threat. That information was immediately shared with school administration, and 911 was called within one minute of receiving the call. We understand the confusion and fear many felt during this time.
Our team worked in real-time with the Ventura Police Department (VPD) to investigate the threat and ensure the safety of all students and staff. Once VPD determined there was no credible threat, students were released at 3:30 pm. We are grateful for your patience during this evolving and stressful situation.
We want to be clear about what occurred and the steps we are taking moving forward.
Legal and Disciplinary Actions
While we cannot legally release specific details about the students involved, we can confirm that three students were taken into custody by VPD Friday evening. One student was released without charges and was met by our staff to provide support this morning. Two students were arrested and face serious charges, including:
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Criminal threats
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False report of a bomb
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Conspiracy
California Education Code 48900 outlines that making a threat of harm and presenting a continuing danger to students are serious offenses. These violations can carry severe school consequences, including expulsion. We take these matters with the utmost seriousness. Student and school safety will always remain our top priority.
Our administrative investigation began over the weekend and continued into this morning, while we move into the disciplinary phase. Please know that the students who were arrested are not on campus.
Student and Staff Support
The Ventura High Wellness Center was fully staffed today with more than ten wellness professionals, along with our school counselors. Throughout the day, they met with students individually and in small groups, prioritizing support for those who were in the three classrooms where students were apprehended. Our principal also held an optional staff meeting Friday afternoon to debrief and gather feedback about the incident and will continue to welcome input.
Throughout the weekend and into today, our district team remained in close communication to evaluate our response and identify areas for improvement.
Lessons and Next Steps
Situations like this are understandably stressful, but they also provide opportunities for reflection and growth. Moving forward, with the District’s support, we are focused on the following:
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Strengthening our collaborative relationship with VPD
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Continuing to assess and improve our communication systems, facilities, and protocols
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Reviewing feedback from staff and students to enhance future emergency response efforts
We also want to address a rumor circulating online: no weapons or explosives were found on campus or in the possession of the students arrested.
We acknowledge there were moments of confusion, especially regarding the nature of the threat and the delay between the fourth and fifth ParentSquare communications. During that time, we were working closely with VPD to finalize a safe release plan. Initially, we were told that VPD would clear classrooms one by one and a message was prepared to go out at the 30-minute mark after the fourth message. Based on VPD’s determination that there was no credible threat, VHS administration felt that fully lifting the lockdown was more appropriate and less traumatic for students and staff.
Just before sending, we were informed the process had changed to a full-campus release, which required updated details and message preparation, causing a delay. We appreciate your feedback and are committed to improving our communication processes moving forward.
Thank you for your continued support, your courage, and your partnership in keeping our school community safe.
Sincerely,
Principal Marissa Rodriguez,
Superintendent Dr. Castro
