Mater Dei High School to close campus through Friday after ‘credible threat’ of violence

Reports of a “credible threat” of violence discovered by administrators at Mater Dei High School on Tuesday, May 31, has prompted them to close the campus through Friday.

Details regarding the nature of the threat and how it came to the school’s attention were not immediately released. Administrators consulted with Santa Ana police and were advised that the threats were potentially legitimate, school officials said.

“We wouldn’t close the school for several days if this appeared to be a hoax,” said Allison Bergeron, Mater Dei’s director of communications. “We are doing this to make sure our kids are safe and law enforcement has enough time to conduct their investigation.”

Santa Ana police officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All classes and campus activities will be canceled for the rest of the week, Mater Dei President Michael Brennan and Principal Frances Clare wrote in a bulletin distributed to families and staff Tuesday afternoon. Department chairs were developing online education options while the campus is closed.

The closure will occur during the last week of campus instruction and one week before finals.

It also comes a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

“We acknowledge the alarming nature of this message; however, we at Mater Dei take all threats made to the school seriously,” Brennan and Clare wrote Tuesday.

More than 2,000 students attend Mater Dei High School.

Source: Orange County Register