What started as a tense late-morning scare at the O'Farrell Charter School complex in southeastern San Diego wrapped up with an all clear and a public vote of confidence from City Hall.
Students and staff were briefly placed on lockdown today while police raced to investigate a reported threat to the campus. Officers swept the grounds, found nothing to substantiate the call, and declared there was no ongoing danger to the public. Classes later resumed normal operations after the quick but visible response drew attention from city leaders.
Police: Call came in mid-morning
San Diego police say the scare began around 11 AM, when a caller reported a person allegedly threatening the campus. Officers moved in quickly, and the middle and high school sections of the complex were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Officers conducted a full check of the grounds, then cleared the scene after determining the report was unfounded and that “there is no threat to the public.” The San Diego Police Department used the moment as a reminder that it wants every potential threat reported right away so investigators can dig in, even if it turns out to be a false alarm.
Reports of a threat at the O’Farrell Charter School complex were unfounded and there is no threat to the public.
— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) February 23, 2026
The San Diego Police Department received a call of a subject threatening the campus around 11 a.m.
Officers responded, and out of an abundance of caution, requested…
Campus background and how to get information
The O'Farrell Charter Schools run elementary, middle and high school programs from a single campus on Skyline Drive in southeastern San Diego, according to the school's website. The shared site means safety responses can ripple through multiple grade levels any time there is a potential issue.
Families were urged to keep an eye on official school messages for any updates, including directions about dismissal or reunification procedures. Residents who want to contact law enforcement directly can find phone numbers for local divisions on the San Diego Police Department community-relations page.
Why officials act fast
Precautionary lockdowns after anonymous or unverified calls have become a recurring feature of school safety in San Diego. NBC 7 reported on a similar unfounded threat that briefly put Clairemont High on lockdown last year, a pattern that helps explain why officers tend to show up fast and in force.
Authorities say the approach is simple: treat every report as if it could be real, then sort out the facts. That is the stance the department reiterated in its public post, stressing that tips should go straight to SDPD so potential threats can be vetted and students can stay safe, even when the day ends with relief instead of bad news.
