Classes Back in Session Today at Community College

Classes are back in session at Estrella Mountain community college this morning, a day after a threat causes evacuation of the campus.

Classes were canceled Tuesday after a note threatening a shooting was delivered via intercampus mail.

The college was evacuated at midday after the note was received by campus police, said Ralph Campbell, a college spokesman. From 1,500 to 2,500 students can be on campus on a normal school day.

Avondale police conferred with campus officers and staff and decided the threat was ``serious and immediate'' and ordered the evacuation, said Amy Boulton, a police spokeswoman.

Officers searched the campus looking for evidence or any threat but nothing was found, Boulton said. She said the response was unrelated to the Virginia Tech shootings Monday.

``Obviously we as people, we're aware of what's happening in an emotional way, but in terms of a police response, emotions don't come into it,'' Boulton said.

A man who is a student and an employee at Estrella Mountain Community College told News 92.3 KTAR's Pat McMahon that the three-page note threatened a shooting on campus.

"I received an e-mail from the district which stated that the note was delivered to the campus security office at Estrella Mountain via the interoffice mail system," he said.

"The e-mail said it was an eight-hour window that there were going to be shootings," the man said. "So, in response to that note - the campus security received - that's why they shut down the school."

The caller said security decided to shut down the campus, and he estimates it took approximately one hour to get everyone out.

An excerpt from the letter reads, "This is not a joke. This is serious."

All buildings, classrooms and parking lots were evacuated as a precaution. Text messages and e-mails about the situation were sent to everyone on the system. The college's voice mail also gave information about classes being canceled.

Police have no suspects in the threat yet, but they are taking a close look at the letter.

Augustine Gallego, the interim president of Estrella Mountain Community College said in his three decades of working in higher education, he's dealt with threats like this before.

Forensic psychologist Erin Spiers spoke with News 92.3 KTAR's Pat McMahon on his show today. Spiers said given the attention the Virginia Tech massacre has gotten, she expects additional threats to surface at schools like Estrella Mountain Community College.

"It certainly can be seductive for the person who made the threat and who is now observing the response, however, I think that given the gravity of the situation, a full response is necessary," Spiers said.