Students at Monroe High School Create Concern with Hoax

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, April 14, 2000

"Students at Monroe High School Create Concern with Hoax"

North Hills- Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Police Department received information of an incident concerning five 10th grade students at James Monroe High School in the North Hills area, who had discussed duplicating an act similar to the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado. Based on the information received, detectives from Devonshire Area and Criminal Conspiracy Section, with assistance from the Los Angeles Unified School Police, conducted a follow-up to James Monroe High School yesterday morning.

The detectives and school police detained the juveniles who were reported to have been involved. The detectives then interviewed the five juveniles extensively. Upon completion of the interviews, the detectives with the cooperation of the juveniles’ parents, conducted a follow-up investigation to the residences. The detectives concluded that the information received was not credible. The evidence obtained substantiated that the comments made were meant as a joke.

No arrests have been made and the juveniles were released to their parents.

For further information contact Media Relations at 213-485-3586.

For Release 9:00 am PST
April 14, 2000