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O.C. school remains closed after out-of-country email threat

St. Mary's School in Aliso Viejo was closed a second day and will remain shuttered Thursday after a threatening email arrived.
St. Mary’s School in Aliso Viejo was closed a second day and will remain shuttered Thursday after a threatening email arrived.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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An email threat about a potential shooting at a private Orange County school has forced the closure of the campus for a second straight day while detectives investigate the origin of the threat.

Detectives have determined that the email -- which made specific assertions -- came from outside the United States, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

St. Mary’s School, a private school in Aliso Viejo, was first closed Tuesday and again Wednesday.

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Thursday classes have also been canceled by school officials while deputies and school administrators work on a plan for reopening the campus, Hallock said.

The email, which was sent Monday, revealed that a shooting would occur on campus at a time and date that has since passed and that the suspect would be a third party.

The threat included a generic name and description of the suspect, and Hallock said authorities have not identified or even confirmed the existence of the subject.

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“There does not appear to be evidence to substantiate a credible threat to the campus,” Hallock said. “At this stage in the investigation, it appears the third-party name provided in the email is not a past or present student, faculty, staff, parent or alumni associated with the school.”

On its website, the school in south Orange County lists a student population of about 800, from preschool to 8th grade.

Sheriff’s deputies boosted their presence on campus since the threat surfaced and will increase patrols once St. Mary’s School reopens.

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Twitter: @newsterrier

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