Bishop Amat High School in La Puente is dealing with fallout after several football players appeared in a social media post that seemed to threaten a player from rival St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs.
Athletic director Tish Price and head coach Kory Minor both confirmed this week that Bishop Amat players were involved in the post. The two schools are set to open their seasons against each other Friday at 7 p.m., with St. Paul hosting.
What the Post Showed
Photos obtained by the Southern California News Group show several Bishop Amat players in uniform, gathered around a classroom whiteboard covered in profanity aimed at the St. Paul team. One photo shows two players standing next to a message that included the word “kill,” directed at a specific St. Paul player. The images were posted to Instagram before being removed.
Neither Price nor Minor would say whether the players involved have faced any discipline or whether they will be allowed to play in Friday’s game. Price referred all further questions to the Los Angeles Archdiocese, which oversees the Catholic school.
Archdiocese Says No Criminal Intent Found
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the Archdiocese acknowledged the incident, saying it involved inappropriate social media use by student athletes, including a post that could be seen as threatening toward another student.
The statement said the matter was reported to law enforcement, which found no criminal intent and sent the case back to the school. An internal investigation is nearly complete, and the Archdiocese said appropriate corrective action would follow.
Citing student privacy, it declined to share further details, adding only that students are expected to uphold the school’s Christian Code of Conduct and values around sportsmanship.
Los Angeles Times columnist Eric Sondheimer reported that the family of the St. Paul player named in the post is pushing Bishop Amat to take action, calling the post bullying and targeting of their son.
SCNG reached out to the player’s father for comment but did not hear back. St. Paul’s first year head coach, Austin Montoya, declined to comment on the situation as well.
The incident adds tension to an already high stakes season opener between the two Southern California programs. Both schools have declined to say publicly whether the players involved will suit up Friday night, leaving fans and both communities waiting to see how the situation is handled before kickoff.
More details are expected once Bishop Amat’s internal investigation wraps up in the coming days.
