The DPS-Rapid Response Team sets up a checkpoint at the entrance of Hopwood Middle School on Monday morning.
DPS public information officer Sgt. Fred Sato
THE Department of Public Safety has responded to an online “shooting threat” against Hopwood Middle School in Chalan Piao.
Police Sgt. Fred Sato, DPS public information officer, said the social media threat was received by one of the school’s administrative staff members on Saturday.
“The DPS commissioner along with our Criminal Investigation Division immediately came up with a plan to conduct a similar operation — security measures and screenings — that we have implemented at Francisco M. Sablan Middle School and Chacha Ocean View Middle School,” Sato said.
“Investigators are currently working to find the culprit or culprits,” he added.
“Whether it’s a ‘joke’ or not, we want to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. We will act on it, and not brush it off as just something like a practical joke,” Sato said.
“When it comes to threats of shooting, we are also looking for students bringing possible BB guns, toy guns, or actual firearms. When we get a threat of shooting, we want to act on it. We see what is going on in the U.S. mainland…. We don’t want that to happen on island,” Sato said.
DPS and other law enforcement agencies had been conducting security screenings at Francisco M. Sablan Middle School in San Antonio since Tuesday last week in response to an online threat that was directed at the school on Sept. 11, 2023.
On Thursday afternoon, Sept. 14, police responded to another threat, this time at Chacha Ocean View Middle School in Kagman.
Sato asked parents to be proactive. “Please monitor the children’s online activity and to educate them that these kinds of situations are not something to joke about. It is not being taken lightly,” he added.
On Sunday, DPS apprehended two underage individuals who made violent threats against Fransisco M. Sablan Middle School. They were charged with “making a terroristic threat and conspiracy.”
Superior Court Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan set bail at $25,000 each.
“That’s a significant amount of bail amount for juveniles, and I don’t think they want to spend their weekend at the juvenile holding unit,” Sato said.
“We advise the students — if this is a joke, it’s not a joke. If they find that this is something that other students are doing, we ask that they report it either to DPS or school administrators so we can put an end to it. Because it’s a huge disruption for not only the students but for the parents as well. They need to feel that their kids are going to a safe environment, and not have that threat be on top of their heads while they are at work or somewhere else.”
Sato is encouraging any person who is aware of someone committing these acts to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at (670) 234-7272.
DPS-Rapid Response Team members inspect a red pick-up truck that was about to enter Hopwood Middle School on Monday morning.
Police vehicles are seen at Hopwood Middle School on Monday morning.
