April 25, 2018
Message Regarding Today’s Red Day
From Mammoth Unified School District Superintendent Lois Klein:
Dear Parents,
I am writing to share with you important information about an incident involving threats of violence to staff and students, and I am relieved to share that law enforcement confirmed this morning that a student alleged to make the threats has been safely apprehended.
MLPD Chief Al Davis
Late yesterday, we began working closely with Mammoth Lakes Police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate alleged threats of violence to our students and staff that were made by a high school student in our district. The student is now being held and questioned by law enforcement, and I assure you that our district will continue to fully cooperate with this important investigation.
Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students and staff, and the decision that I made to close schools today was guided by this profound obligation.
There are many details that I cannot discuss, as we do not want to compromise the investigation and law enforcement’s ability to act on facts and the law, but I will share with you what I can.
A student was overheard on several occasions to make threats of violence to students and staff at ite school, and the district engaged law enforcement to investigate. Late yesterday, I was informed that law enforcement intended to apprehend the student this morning, before school began, and I made a
decision to close school because we could not be completely certain that the student was not tipped off to the situation, and, thus might come to school.
I apologize that I could not offer the full facts regarding a red day, but law enforcement felt they needed the element of surprise in order to be certain they could secure the student and evidence that will inform their continued investigation.
The student is not allowed on campus during this investigation.
Before returning staff and students to school, each campus will be examined by law enforcement to ensure safe$. Tomorrow when we will return to school, please be assured that our dedicated staff will be prepared to welcome all students to a calm, focused day of learning.
As always, our education professionals are prepared to discuss with students important messages about safety and speaking up when and if they ever hear something concerning. Of course, we will be available to students who may want to discuss anxious feelings.
Following is a statement from Mammoth Lakes Police Department Chief Al Davis:
After learning about a credible threat of violence in the school, we worked with our Law Enforcement partners and the school district to develop a plan ensure the safety of everyone and complete a thorough investigation. There are many laws on how we can proceed with “threats-.”
Working closely with the Mono County DA, we obtained proper search and arrest warrants. With those in place, a plan was devetoped to ensure first the safety of the students first, next the officers and the suspect.
After careful consideration, it was determined the safest action would be not to have school in session today. Despite no specific threats rnade for today’s date, we were concerned that yesterday’s investigation may encourage quicker action on the part of the suspect if, in fact, he planned to follow through with his statements.
Working with the school district, we all decided to call a Red Day. The idea of a power outage was mine, as to not alert the suspect of pending police activity against him. Superintendent Klein was willing to put out this incorrect message to support our investigation.
While to many, there may have been an inconvenience, however, we feel the safety of our students far exceeds any inconvenience.
“Victory Favors the Prepared”
Chief Al Davis
Mammoth Lakes Police Department
I am grateful to the law enforcement agencies for taking swift action to help ensure our safety. And again, I apologize for any inconvenience to you and your families due to the school closure, but I am confident that vigilant attention to staff and student safeiy must never be compromised.
lf you have any questions, I can be reached at the number below.
Respectfully,
Lois Klein, Superintendent
Mammoth Unified School District
(760) 934-6802 ext. 511
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I do think they went a little overboard with this young man, but as they say, Better safe than sorry??
Wow all you people suggesting reasons why he may or may not have done anything is absolutely ridiculous. Half of the charges are so insane it makes me sick. Until you know the truth you shouldn’t go blasting someone. You realize if this goes to jury trial any possible jury members could have read this and possibly tainted them. How fair is that?
@Charles not true the word was first used in this thread by T-Bone April 29, 2018 at 8:20 am #
@Bob,
The “race card” can be played many different ways. Are you trying to say your “DREAMER” question had no racial component to it whatsoever? I don’t think many people would believe that. If it wasn’t about race, then what exactly did you mean by asking the question in the first place? There was nothing in the article to point you there.
Since you ask,one of those that “assume” this kid was an Hispanic “dreamer” and/or in this Country illegally,and if it turned out he was white,the reason for his talk and actions was because he’s “fed up ” with going to a high school that resembles a high school in Mexico…someone that always brings up and blames immigration for most of America’s problems,and if you are honest about it,whether it’s them in this Country illegally OR legally…and when you get called out on anything for saying what you do and did,it’s always someone elses fault for your mis-information…with this one,saying it was poor journalism and reporting of the story,I guess because the Sierra Wave didn’t say he was a white guy right off the bat…we see these people all the time,usually angry,loud,wearing their little red “made in China” baseball caps bad-mouthing Liberals,blaming them(and President Obama ) for every problem they and this Country,and the State of California has now.But you know what,the new generation,and especially the young voters coming up very soon,things are about to change even more so..watch and see…I’m betting it’s not going to be the kind of change you are going to want.
Bob….It’s people like you that are “fed up” with those DACA stats and “DREAMER” stats you are stating…do you know how stupid that sounds saying he said,threatened to do and did what he did was because he’s pissed-off because his high school isn’t white enough ?..when have you ever heard of a high school shooter saying he did it because his school had too many Mexicans and was like going to high school in Mexico,then saying he did it, like you do here for his defense,saying too many DACA and Dreamers ?…get a grip,dude….times,they are a changing and have changed a lot since the 60’s…..get used to it….one of the good things the younger high-school generation kids do now is not think your way…..unless they have parents that are trump-worshipers pounding racism and bigotry into their heads.
people like who?
DACA stats within his high school might have him fed up.. I read where 29% of Dreamers are between 16 and 20 years of age. Mammoth would be a great place to go to high school if it was like going to school in Mammoth use to be instead of like going to school in Mexico.
Bob, I’ll go out on a limb here and say that you’ve never been to high school in Mexico. So good job re-emphasizing the fact that the biggest part of your day is spewing racism online as if you are making a positive contribution to this world.
More importantly, at some point the editors of this website should recognize blatant bigotry and racism and not publish every comment made by bigots and racists – lest they be seen as tacitly endorsing the commentary. Sure, we’ve got a right to free speech, but that doesn’t mean a private news organization should allow non-substantive and racist commentary ad naseum. Have some respect for your readers and community.
Thanks.
Inyo, wouldn’t that be censorship?
What Bob posted may be exaggerated, politically incorrect, abrasive and maybe a bit harsh; he probably could have worded it different, but nothing he posted was racist. He does have a point and calling it racist and bigoted are reasons those accusations no longer have much effect or meaning anymore, those accusations are themselves overused and abused.
The race card has been played so much recently it’s now faded and lost most of it’s power from being used incorrectly so frequently.
I was reading about a school administrator that posted something dumb online. The news article stated the school he worked at was 99% minority. since when is 99% a minority? I think everyone has gone crazy.
@Bob,
Hmmm… You were the one to bring up race regarding this article. And you used it incorrectly. So maybe you’re right.
Inyo, now that I think about it, this site has in fact not published things I’ve submitted for whatever reason and for whatever it’s worth Which would mean I’m correct in my last comment (if they post it) that what Bob posted is not racist.
what was this young mans concerns and who if any was he targeting?
…Michelle,this isn’t a “kid”….18 years old ,which means facing ADULT consequences for his stupid mouth and actions….AND his name was published before Tinner mentioned it…that’s one of the problems with young people,maybe some older people too nowdays….in trump’s America….no consequences for his actions,almost like he should get a slap on the wrist and sent to his room for what he said and did…bet you’d feel different if he carried out what he was planning and talking about doing up there in Mammoth.
First of all Tinner to go out and publish this kids name is just wrong! Think about his parents, his family and what that is now causing them. Yes I personally know them and they are good people. Devin is not a “DREAMER” just so you know. Kids do stupid shit! I don’t for one minute believe he really meant anything he said. But you can go on believing that big city Mammoth is now faced with big city problems all you want, just don’t go blasting the kids name all over and ruin his family.
Michelle kibler, “don’t go blasting the kids name all over and ruin his family”? It’s in the newspapers, if you’d pull your head out of the sand you’d know that. Good grief!
And I didn’t call him a Dreamer, “just so you know.”
Often friends and family don’t believe somebody they love is capable of committing such heinous crimes, it’s called blind by love. I’m not saying that Devin White would have followed through with his threats but nobody knows, not even you.
Mammoth may or may not have “big city problems”, what it DOES have is a serious drug problem, drugs that make good people do things completely uncharacteristic of the them. I’m not talking about pot, REAL drugs.
I agree, kids do stupid shi*, they break their parents’ hearts, but don’t blame anyone but the kid and don’t think for one minute that they won’t commit such crimes, if Devin White talked about harming people maybe he would have and maybe he wouldn’t have.
If you know him and his family like you say you do, where were you when he talked about committing such crimes?
Lastly, Michelle, if you know his family like you say you do, and I believe you do, I’m sure they could use your love and support right now more than ever.
Ok so for your information I can tell you for a fact that Devin White NEVER used any “hard” drugs. So don’t go suggesting that drugs were the “problem”. You don’t know him, do you? I do!
Bob…..looks like you’ll have to bash the immigrants and “Dreamers” with something else and another story with your assumptions…looks like the stupid kid is white as snow…with a room full of now confiscated weapons….now let’s see the NRA and trump-worshipers bitch about that happening and “violating his Second Amendment rights “….
18yrs and and a room full of weapons?
There is no limit to the number of handguns that you may own but you are generally limited to purchasing no more than one handgun in any 30-day period. Handgun transactions related to law enforcement, private party transfers, returns to owners, and certain other specific circumstances are exempt from the one-handgun-per-30-day purchase limit.
There’s more to this story for sure
Not Good..
I wonder if the kid is a DREAMER . It’s all bs when we never hear the entire story.
Bob….What makes you say that ?….you think only immigrant “DREAMERS ” are the ones doing the school shootings or violent acts on campus ?…..my bet would be more in the lines of coming from parents that are trump-worshipers.
Yea Bob, Devin White is his name. Sounds suspiciously Hispanic. Seriously, when is the last time you heard of a mass shooter that wasn’t some entitled, white a**hole? You’re a bigot, Bob.
Sticks & Stones T-bone but since you ask “Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the shooters who attacked Farook’s office holiday party, killing 14 and wounding 22, in San Bernardino
Thanks, Bob. I’m aware of that attack, but to my point, you had to dig through a quite a few mass shootings perpetrated by white guys before you could pull that one out. Why would you be so quick to assume this incident in Mammoth involved an undocumented Mexican immigrant? Honestly, is there anything you can provide us that shows these people are prone to this sort of thing? Because if not, you’re prejudice is squarely visible and your remark was motivated by hatred of another culture. This is racism.
I have to laugh when when person tells another what motivates them.
I’d shy away from “these people, “you people, those people. phrases in your comments. I didn’t consider the individuals name “Devin White” when I made my Dreamer comment.. That would be profiling. The Dreamer comment was only based on how the culture demographics of the high school has changed over the years. This is obvious when the students cross the street from the school to Vons. It’s a very evident visual if you’re not blind. I guess on a one for one basis Caucasians are more prone to mass shootings then Hispanics. My bartender is from Jalisco, Mexico. Anytime there’s a shooting he looks at me and says “I hope they’re not Mexican Bob”. Evidently no one cares for anyone that gives their culture a bad name.
This is one of our kids they are talking about in this press release. What are they going to do now is what I want to now? Did they ever try sitting down with this kid and tell him what would happen if he made stupid teenage comments?
Almost Native,
When was the last time YOU sat down with 18 yr old kid and tried to tell them anything?
Good job to everyone involved!! “Glad we didn’t end up on National TV”. That’s your 1st thought?! Idiot.
Yeah, Trout Seeker, what should my first thought be? Identical to yours?
Should I not commend everyone who brought the intentions of Devin White to the attention of law enforcement and possibly prevent another mass school shooting where numerous kids are killed and others maimed and traumatized for life and for all of it be televised for the world to see?
Please tell me why I’m an idiot for that being my first thought.
Sounds to me as if you are a friend or family member of Devin White, are you? Please be honest.
Crazy days we are living in, glad it all worked out, glad we didn’t end up on national tv for all the wrong reasons.
Good job to all involved, although I heard the safety of the staff and students was put in jeopardy because of one school official talking too much.