Shooting threats prompt police to lock down 2 LAUSD high schools

Police temporarily locked down a pair of high schools Wednesday in the Van Nuys/Lake Balboa area in response to anonymous phone calls containing a shooting threat.

The threats were directed at Birmingham Community Charter High School at 17000 Haynes St. in Van Nuys and High Tech Los Angeles Charter High School at 17111 Victory Blvd. in Lake Balboa.

Birmingham Community Charter received an anonymous phone call shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, a Los Angeles Police Department representative told City News Service. The timing of the second threat was not immediately clear.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a statement, “Out of an abundance of caution, schools were placed on a brief lockdown during this ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles School Police Department, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department.”

Carvalho said that as of early afternoon, both schools were off lockdown “and have resumed normal school operations.”

“Our students, employees and school communities remain safe,” Carvalho said.

The credibility of the threats and the motive behind the calls were still under investigation, according to the LAPD.

No further details were immediately available.