Mass Shooting Threat In Los Angeles Not Credible, LAPD Says

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department deemed a mass shooting threat downtown not credible after a rumor spread on social media that someone called a suicide hotline and threatened to kill as many people as possible.

A Twitter user warned the public to avoid the downtown area Thursday after she said a friend who works at a suicide prevention center told her someone called and threatened to "shoot as many people can." The user attached a photo of her messaging conversation with the friend, who said there was no way to confirm the threat but that police were notified.

On Thursday, Los Angeles police told Patch the threat was deemed not credible.

"It was investigated and deemed not credible," a spokeswoman for the department told Patch. KTVU first reported the news.

The social media post was retweeted and liked more than 4,000 times by Thursday morning. One office closed, citing the threat.

"Shutting down our office due to threats of a shooting in DTLA today," one user tweeted. "Be safe everyone!!!"

The threat comes as President Joe Biden visits the city for the Summit of the Americas.