District Security System Helps Apprehend Suspect

Palo Alto, CA—A student who posted a written threat on a classroom door has been detained by local authorities. Wearing a mask during the night of April 24, the bike rider, a Palo Alto High student, taped the note to an exterior door prior to the morning of a final exam.

Superintendent Don Austin explains, “We want our students, our staff, and our families to return to normalcy. This disruption in our students’ education is not taken lightly. Our district cameras and security system definitely contribute to a safer school environment.”

Palo Alto Unified staff worked diligently to find and evaluate recordings obtained by district cameras. These findings, located on a cloud-based video surveillance system, provided the necessary imaging reviewed by district staff during this week’s detailed search. Information shared with the City of Palo Alto authorities increased the probability of apprehending the identified suspect.

The installation of the district’s current camera system was completed during the 2021 - 2022 school year. “Without this district-wide enhancement, there is no guarantee the initial investigation would have reached this conclusion so soon, Austin adds. “Being able to provide details to the local police made a vast difference, and I commend our valuable staff at Palo Alto High, our Safety Director, and Information Technology staff for assisting in this detailed process.”

While school disciplinary matters remain confidential, the Palo Alto officials will manage steps involved in the legal process.

Implementing a shelter-in-place allows classes to continue while doors remain locked and blinds closed. Working with the Palo Alto authorities, who remained on campus throughout the day (Tuesday, April 25), the schoolwide shelter-in-place at Palo Alto High was lifted at 10:35 a.m. that day.