Lockdowns Lifted After Threat Calls at O’Farrell Charter and Monte Vista High in San Diego County

What happened and where

Two San Diego-area campuses were placed on lockdown Monday, February 23, 2026, after threats were reported to authorities. In both cases, law enforcement searches found no hazards and normal operations resumed later the same day.

The first incident unfolded around 11 a.m. at O’Farrell Charter School, a campus complex in the 6100 block of Skyline Drive in Encanto that includes both middle- and high-school grades. Students and staff were kept secured indoors while officers conducted a search of buildings and grounds.

A second lockdown began shortly after noon at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, on Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, after administrators received a threat by telephone. Deputies conducted a campus sweep while students and staff remained locked in classrooms and offices.

Indicators of a broader hoax pattern

Investigators described elements that suggested the Monte Vista incident may be connected to a wider set of similar reports. During the response, detectives identified related incidents reported by other agencies over the prior two weeks involving the same phone number and the same wording. Authorities said the available evidence indicated the threat was not valid and that there was no present threat to students or staff at the affected school.

While the incidents occurred at different campuses and were handled by different agencies, the common features cited by investigators point to a pattern consistent with hoax threats that have disrupted school operations in multiple jurisdictions. These incidents typically prompt immediate, resource-intensive responses because schools and law enforcement agencies treat threats as potentially credible until they are assessed and cleared.

Operational impact on campuses and public safety response

Lockdowns are designed to limit movement and quickly account for students and staff while searches are carried out. In the two San Diego County cases, administrators kept people indoors and law enforcement conducted systematic checks of school property. By late afternoon, the lockdowns had been lifted and school activity had returned to normal.

• O’Farrell Charter School: lockdown initiated after a threat reported around 11 a.m.; search found no hazards.

• Monte Vista High School: lockdown initiated after a telephoned threat shortly after noon; sweep found nothing suspicious.

What authorities have said publicly

Investigators said multiple related incidents elsewhere over the past two weeks used the same phone number and the same wording, and that evidence indicated the threat was not valid.

Authorities have not publicly released information identifying any suspect or explaining whether the calls were traced to a specific person or location. The investigation details that have been made public emphasize the reported similarities to other cases and the conclusion that no active danger was found on the campuses searched.

For families, staff, and students, the immediate result Monday was disruption and heightened concern, even though searches ultimately turned up no threats. Law enforcement agencies have continued to underscore in past public safety messaging that hoax threats can carry serious legal consequences and divert emergency resources from other calls for service.