Mexicali police have recorded at least 50 school shooting threats since April 20, with the wave of incidents concentrated at middle schools and high schools across the Baja California capital.
Municipal Police Director Luis Felipe Chan Baltazar confirmed the tally, noting that all of the threats so far have turned out to be false. The reports have been called in to the city’s C5 emergency command center, with four new threats logged in the most recent 24-hour period alone.
One Minor Sanctioned, Copycat Pattern Suspected
At least one minor has been sanctioned and placed before a juvenile court judge. That student was identified by school officials as the person responsible for spray-painting a threatening message on campus property. No other arrests have been announced.
Across all of Baja California, the statewide total has reached 98 threat reports, according to the state Secretary of Public Security. The concentration of incidents in Mexicali accounts for roughly half of that figure.
Emergency Crews Stretched by False Alarms
Mexicali Fire Department Director Rubén Darío Osuna said crews have been repeatedly dispatched to schools in response to the ongoing threats. Each report requires a full emergency response, pulling resources from other calls even when the threats prove unfounded.
The pattern of written threats appearing on school walls and bathrooms, combined with the rapid escalation in numbers, points to a copycat dynamic. Authorities have increased police presence at secondary and preparatory campuses throughout the city. Parents should expect possible schedule disruptions as investigations continue.
What Families Should Know
Mexicali sits directly across the border from Calexico, California, and its school system serves a large binational population. Many families hold dual residency, and students cross the border daily. The city’s middle and high schools enroll tens of thousands of students.
Mexican law treats minors who make threats through a juvenile justice process rather than the adult criminal system. Penalties can include community service, mandatory counseling, or detention in a juvenile facility, depending on the severity of the offense and the judge’s ruling.
Authorities have urged parents to report any suspicious messages or social media posts to the C5 emergency line. The situation was first reported by El Imparcial and Semanario ZETA.