Airsoft Gun Helix High School Lockdown California: La Mesa threat and Helix Charter High School incident
LA MESA, Calif. — Helix Charter High School was placed under a secure lockdown Friday morning after police responded to reports of a suspicious person possibly armed with a weapon near the campus, authorities said.
According to the City of La Mesa and the La Mesa Police Department, officers were dispatched to the school, located at 4200 Lowell Street, shortly before 10:45 a.m. School officials implemented a “secure campus” protocol as a precaution, keeping students and staff inside with doors locked while normal instruction continued. The campus was temporarily closed to visitors.
In a statement released around 11 a.m., school officials advised parents and community members not to come to campus until further notice, citing the ongoing police response.
Police later clarified that the report involved a group of suspicious individuals seen near the school’s baseball fields. The call was received at approximately 11:13 a.m., according to a department press release.
Officers located the group near a parked vehicle in the 4200 block of Lowell Street. During the investigation, police found an airsoft gun inside the vehicle. Authorities determined that none of the individuals had brought the airsoft gun onto school grounds.
A 10News photographer at the scene observed officers questioning an individual who consented to a search of the vehicle’s trunk. The individual was not placed in handcuffs, and no arrests were reported.
Police said there was no ongoing threat to students or staff. The lockdown was described as a precautionary measure while officers assessed the situation.
Authorities remained on scene for a period of time to ensure campus safety before clearing the incident. Further updates will be provided by school officials and law enforcement as needed.
