On the morning of April 10, 2018 the Sheriff’s Office learned that Mariposa County Unified School District Superintendent’s Office (MCUSD) received an email from an unknown person who threatened to bring a gun and bombs to school to harm students and staff. The email MCUSD received was generic and did not include specific school site details. MCUSD contacted the Sheriff’s Office immediately after reading the email.
Yesterday multiple school districts throughout California received generalized email threats that were made from a known hacking group called ApophisSquad. At this time the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office believes MCUSD was one of those districts. The email MCUSD received is identical to the others received by other school districts.
The AposhiSquad group has been targeting schools in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks and has announced they are starting to target schools in the United States. ApophisSquad claims to be a “Team of people running around the internet” based in Braubunden, Switzerland, according to their Twitter page.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office does not have any information at this time that this email threat is credible and actually targeted at MCUSD schools. With the information we have, there is no reason to believe that anyone's safety is threatened at any of the school sites in Mariposa County. At this time our investigation points to this current threat as just one of many unfounded threats received nationwide in the recent months.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are continuing to investigate.
Statement from Superintendent of Schools Robin Hopper:
While this threat appears to be a hoax, please rest assured that MCUSD takes all such potential danger seriously. Though always vigilant, staff has been alerted to be extra aware and observant to anything out of place. You can assist as well. Anytime you see or hear something of concern, say something. Report it to the school administration, school staff or Sheriff's Office.
Anonymous Text 888777: TIP MARIPOSASO followed by your message
Call Anonymous Tip Line: 209-966-3476
Attachments: