SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A reported threat at Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Penasquitos prompted a lockdown on the campus Monday morning.
In an X/Twitter post just before 10 a.m., SDPD officials stated: “SDPD Northeastern Division officers are responding to a reported threat at Mt. Carmel High School. Significant police resources are on scene working to ensure the campus is safe while officers investigate the report. Please avoid the area. Updates will be provided as information is confirmed.”
Poway Unified School District officials sent out a letter to families informing them of the police activity at the campus at 9550 Carmel Mountain Road and the lockdown measure put into place.
At around 11:40 a.m., Poway Unified officials confirmed the lockdown was lifted, telling families in a letter:
The lockdown at Mt. Carmel High School has been lifted at the direction of law enforcement, and normal campus operations are resuming.
Now that the lockdown has been lifted, we can share that law enforcement was responding to a reported threat. Out of an abundance of caution, officers, including SWAT personnel, conducted a room-by-room sweep of the entire campus before determining it was safe to lift the lockdown.
In situations like this, law enforcement directs the response, including the safety protocols schools are asked to follow and what information can be shared while the situation is active. We understand this can be frustrating, particularly when students may be sharing their experiences with families by text in real time. Our responsibility is to follow law enforcement direction while providing families with confirmed information as quickly as we are able.
We are adjusting the bell schedule to give students and staff a brief break following the lockdown. After that, the remainder of the school day will continue with normal operations.
SDPD officials said officers determined the campus was safe and deemed the reported threat as "unfounded." Police added they are "investigating the source of the call."
