The Daily Populous Wednesday September 24th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by abc7news.com and submitted by IMSLI

Sandy Hook Promise tip line warns of possible planned shooting at Bay Area high school

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- Thanks to a single voice speaking up, a potential school attack was prevented, according to a nonprofit created after the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

A mother is making it her life's mission to prevent tragedy. Nicole Hockley's son Dylan was one of 20 children killed in 2012 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Hockley co-founded the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise.

A free resource that teaches students how to recognize warning signs of violence and offers an anonymous reporting system.

"Every time we avert another act of violence, every time we avert another planned school shooting attack, I know that is one more community that is not going to experience what I have," Hockley said.

On Monday, the organization claims they helped stop a potential school attack within the Sequoia Union High School District out of Redwood City.

MORE: How many lives have been lost in school shootings in the US this year?

"What we know is that a student saw a concerning post on a friend's Instagram feed and reported it to our anonymous reporting system manned at our crisis center down in Miami," Hockley said.

According to Atherton Police Department, the posts included images of ammunition. Sandy Hook Promise also claims the posts included an image of the school. The district told ABC7 News it was Menlo-Atherton High School.

Law enforcement later detained the student and continues to work closely with the school, law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney's Office as the investigation proceeds..

"It is an example of one voice making a significant difference to a community and we really applaud that student for raising the alarm bells saying this is really concerning I think this person is planning to do something they need help," Hockley said.

The district's superintendent released the following statement:

"Nothing is more important to us than keeping our students and staff safe. In the wake of violence at other schools around the country, we take our responsibility to put prevention measures in place extremely seriously. Sandy Hook Promise has been a vital partner in helping our students and staff recognize warning signs of potential violence. We are grateful that Sandy Hook's Say Something Anonymous Reporting system made swift action by local law enforcement and school administrators possible when a member of our community reported a potential threat against one of our schools recently. As a result of this program, we were able to keep students and staff safe."

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Since its launch in 2018, the organization's anonymous reporting system has stopped at least 19 credible planned school attacks nationwide.

"At a time when so many of us feel powerless of the epidemic of gun violence, or the epidemic of youth violence, this is proof that prevention works," Hockley said.

ABC7 News asked Hockley what fuels her work.

"This is what keeps me going, the love that I have for my surviving child and child that died - Dylan - but also knowing that we can create a safer future," Hockley said.

Hockley said they receive at least 200 tips a day from kids across the country.

School districts can partner with Sandy Hook Promise for free. Hockley encourages schools to visit their website.

Editorial Note: The Atherton Police Department clarified details ABC7 News received from Sandy Hook Promise about the potential threat. They say weapons were not recovered, and the social media posts contained an image of ammunition but no firearms were depicted.

Atrianie on September 23rd, 2025 at 19:31 UTC »

I donate monthly to Sandy Hook promise. This does feel like a bit of uplifting news. Some people are alive because resources were seen to be lacking and were created!

Guys, please consider a recurring donation. This organization is really trying to focus on things that work more and more. The tip line is not all that they do.

Edit: https://takeaction.sandyhookpromise.org/ $10 donation, monthly. Worth every penny. Also, tell your kids about their resources. I absolutely feel the same sense of hopelessness as the most upvoted comments in this post (which have since been removed by a mod - you can see the jist from the replies), but remember that we can’t dismiss small wins because they aren’t big wins. We CAN see small wins and boost them to become bigger wins. Find the things that improve the world a little bit the right way and do what you can to help those people doing the right thing.

JonBoy82 on September 23rd, 2025 at 17:28 UTC »

DeAnza Community College was spared the same unfortunate fate because the woman working the photo processing booth noticed all the incriminating photos and promptly called the police before the event even took place. I refused to go to zero period classes after that.

OohWeeTShane on September 23rd, 2025 at 16:58 UTC »

I am a school counselor and utilize resources from Sandy Hook Promise. All of their lessons and resources are free and do help kids build empathy and understand that if something seems wrong, they should tell an adult and get help.