Two letters were found detailing a threat against students and teachers at a San Diego-area middle school. One parent said he was told the students named in the letter were the school's "popular kids."
Pershing Middle School parents received two phone calls – one Sunday and another Monday – regarding a threat from a student.
In the pre-recorded phone message Principal Susan Levy told parents a threat was made by a student, to multiple other students. The student has been removed from the campus and the school is safe for all students, parents and teachers.
Officials said the letters were found in a student's backpack and on the floor of the building.
San Diego Unified School District spokesperson Jack Brandais told NBC 7 San Diego there was a threat made by a student at the school.
Brandais said the student has been removed from the school but he couldn't reveal any other details in the case citing state and federal privacy rules, specifically FERPA, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Joshua Leach has a son in the 8th grade at Pershing. He told NBC 7 San Diego his heart sank when he learned his son was named in the threat.
In a phone call from police Wednesday night Leach learned there were two letters found at the school. He hasn’t seen the letter but he said he was told the other names included were “popular kids.”
Leach said his son knows the student who allegedly wrote the letter but is not friends with the boy.
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His son thought it was a joke at first but Leach said he had to explain the seriousness of the matter to his son.
Students are scheduled to return to the San Carlos campus Tuesday after a long weekend because of the Presidents’ Day holiday.
School police and members of the district's Crisis Response Team will be on campus to provide support.
