Update: Online student made gun threat to Modesto Junior College campuses
Both of Modesto Junior College’s campuses were evacuated Friday afternoon due to a shooting threat.
“Due to a potential threat to the campus Chancellor (Henry) Yong has ordered all buildings locked down and all staff and students are instructed to vacate campus immediately until further notice,” reads a message sent via text to students Friday afternoon.
A notice at the top of the college’s website said both MJC East and MJC West campuses were closed and classes canceled.
An email sent to employees from Yong at 2:40 p.m. said an online student, who was not on campus at the time, threatened to drive to MJC with her gun and shoot up campus during a phone counseling session.
“She was apparently walking out to her car, the counselor heard her starting the car, and then the phone went dead,” the email said.
The counselor reported the threat to campus security, who notified law enforcement and made the decision to shut down both campuses and the district office.
A follow-up email from MJC President Santanu Bandyopadhyay, sent at 2:46 p.m., said the decision was precautionary, and the student had not been seen on campus.
Law enforcement is working to locate the student, and MPD is on campus.
The Stanislaus State Police Department posted an update to its Facebook page that its campus is not affected.
We will update this story as information develops.
This story was originally published September 10, 2021 at 3:33 PM.
