{
  "id": "2019-09-03-cerritos-college-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "cerritos-college-bomb-threat-2019-09-03",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Cerritos College",
    "shortName": "Cerritos",
    "state": "CA",
    "type": "community-college",
    "alertSystemName": "RAVE Alert"
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2019-09-03",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "Classroom bomb claim prompts two-hour shelter-in-place; suspect detained",
    "headlinePublic": "Classroom bomb claim prompts two-hour shelter-in-place; suspect detained",
    "summary": "[Cerritos College ordered a campus-wide shelter-in-place](https://patch.com/california/cerritos/possible-threat-leads-shelter-place-cerritos-college) after a person allegedly entered a classroom and said he was a terrorist with a bomb. [Talon Marks reported](https://www.talonmarks.com/news/2019/09/03/campus-closed-following-a-potential-bomb-threat-suspect-is-in-custody/) that the incident caused an approximately two-hour lockdown, evacuations near the Administration Building, and cancellation of remaining classes.",
    "outcome": "A suspect was detained, the campus was declared safe around 2:15 p.m. PDT, and all remaining classes for the day were canceled.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Shortly before 12:30 p.m. PDT on September 3, 2019",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "ATTENTION: Shelter in place. There is a reported possible threat to campus. This is not a drill. Please take cover until further notice.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://patch.com/california/cerritos/possible-threat-leads-shelter-place-cerritos-college",
      "sourceDescription": "Patch embedding Cerritos College official Twitter/X alert",
      "annotations": [
        "The message leads with a clear action and plainly distinguishes the incident from a drill.",
        "The phrase 'possible threat' reflects incomplete early information while still directing immediate protective action."
      ],
      "characterCount": 136
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Around 12:45 p.m. PDT on September 3, 2019",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Update: Bomb threat to campus has been contained to the drop-off area near the Administrative Building. Continue to shelter in place until further notice.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://patch.com/california/cerritos/possible-threat-leads-shelter-place-cerritos-college",
      "sourceDescription": "Patch embedding Cerritos College official Twitter/X update",
      "annotations": [
        "The update narrows the hazard location without releasing the broader campus from shelter-in-place.",
        "Naming the Administration Building drop-off area helped separate evacuation zones from areas still under lockdown."
      ],
      "characterCount": 154
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Suspect Detained After Bomb Threat At Cerritos College",
      "url": "https://patch.com/california/cerritos/possible-threat-leads-shelter-place-cerritos-college",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Campus Closed Following a Potential Bomb Threat",
      "url": "https://www.talonmarks.com/news/2019/09/03/campus-closed-following-a-potential-bomb-threat-suspect-is-in-custody/",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "'Terrorist' Bomb Threat Forces Evacuations, Cancels Classes At Cerritos College",
      "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/bomb-threat-forces-evacuations-cancels-classes-at-cerritos-college-suspect-in-custody/",
      "type": "local-media"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Cerritos College's alert sequence began after [a reported bomb threat near the Administration Building](https://patch.com/california/cerritos/possible-threat-leads-shelter-place-cerritos-college) and moved quickly into shelter-in-place instructions. Student journalists at [Talon Marks documented confusion over RAVE timing](https://www.talonmarks.com/news/2019/09/03/campus-closed-following-a-potential-bomb-threat-suspect-is-in-custody/) and reported that students initially were unsure whether the alert was a drill. [CBS Los Angeles reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/bomb-threat-forces-evacuations-cancels-classes-at-cerritos-college-suspect-in-custody/) that the person allegedly told a class he was a terrorist with a bomb; the campus later canceled remaining classes after the suspect was detained.",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "shelter-in-place",
    "california",
    "community-college",
    "rave-alert"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-15",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-05-15",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}