APTOS — Law enforcement authorities confirmed Wednesday that a firearm, ammunition and mask discovered recently on the campus of Aptos High School are connected to an assault that occurred there three weeks prior, and that there is no ongoing threat to the school or community.
An ongoing investigation by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office determined that the weaponry and mask found Jan. 18 were not placed on campus as part of any preplanned event targeting the school. Instead, these items were deemed to be discarded evidence tied to an assault that occurred among a group of juveniles Dec. 28, 2025, during the school’s winter break.
Firearms were present at the December incident, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, but were not discharged and, shortly thereafter, one juvenile was arrested in connection with the assault that also occurred on the school’s campus.
The items were found on campus 21 days after the assault, quickly igniting an investigation and overwhelming concern from school families. The Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with officials from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, implemented a number of safety measures after the gun, ammunition and mask were discovered, including a comprehensive search of the campus and surrounding areas with assistance from a bomb-detection K-9 team and bomb squad as well as increased staffing and patrol presence at all county schools. Other safety measures involved deployment of contingency teams, emergency response plans and general coordination among local law enforcement, the school district and the county Office of Education.
Because the incidents involve multiple juveniles, an arrest and future court proceedings, the Sheriff’s Office was unable to release additional details Wednesday.
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