'Not A Rite Of Passage:' Dozens Of Malibu Students Risk Prosecution After Senior Prank

MALIBU, CA — Dozens of seniors and former students who vandalized Malibu High School are at risk of prosecution after causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, school officials said.

The vandalism occurred between 11 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday by a group of 40 to 50 current and former students. The acts — which range from superglued locks to graffiti — are a part of an unfortunate 15-year tradition of vandalism by graduating seniors, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Antonio Shelton said in a statement.

"This is not a rite of passage. This is a crime that has consequences to all involved. It will not be tolerated," he wrote.

Here's a rundown of the vandalism, according to the district:

• A golf cart was pushed down the stairs and overturned
• Raw eggs were thrown on windows and the exterior of buildings
• Exterior clocks were pulled down and damaged
• Multiple pieces of furniture were overturned or moved to rooftops
• All locks that require a key were superglued, rendering 20 classrooms inaccessible
• Explicit phrases and other messages were spray painted onto surfaces
• Trash cans were dumped, with trash scattered across campus
• Several concrete tables and seating structures were broken

Some classes Tuesday met in the school gym and library as a result of the vandalism, which will cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix, according to Shelton.

"This behavior is completely unacceptable and negatively impacts the entire Malibu community," he wrote. "We expect our students to act as responsible members of our community, including in the week leading up to graduation."

Those involved could face serious consequences, he said. He later confirmed that Malibu High School's graduation will be held as planned on June 11.

He said school officials are "collaborating closely with the sheriff's Malibu-Lost Hills Station in an ongoing investigation and to identify those responsible."

"All individuals found to be involved will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and education code," Shelton wrote. "This may include, but is not limited to, restitution for damages and the loss of senior privileges."

He added that "it's vital to address the underlying issues that may contribute to such behavior and reinforce the importance of respect for property and community."

Anyone with information regarding the vandalism was urged to report it to the MHS administration or the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Malibu/Lost Hills station at 818-878-1808 or the district's anonymous tip form.

City News Service contributed to this report.