CHULA VISTA, CA. – Southwestern College’s Chula Vista campus was in lockdown for approximately one hour this afternoon as a safety precaution because of an armed suspect in the area.
At approximately 1 pm today, Southwestern College Campus Police received a call from Chula Vista Police regarding an incident at Bonita Vista High School, which is located across the street from the college. Chula Vista Police informed Campus Police that a person had brandished what looked like a handgun at the high school and that the suspect could be heading to the Chula Vista college campus.
With an abundance of caution, college leadership placed the campus on lockdown and advised faculty, staff and students to shelter in place. The safety information was provided through the loud speakers on the blue emergency poles around campus and through emails, phone calls and text messages through the district’s emergency callout system.
In addition to Southwestern College students attending summer session classes, younger students participating in the College for Kids (CFK) program were attending classes. Those parents were informed through email and College for Kids staff called each of the CFK instructors to keep their students locked in their classrooms.
At approximately 2 pm Campus Police were confident the suspect was no longer on campus and lifted the lockdown. Campus Police also personally escorted all College for Kids students to Lot H where parents were instructed to pick up their children.
By the end of the day, Chula Vista Police notified Southwestern College Campus Police that the suspect had been identified and was now in custody. The weapon was a replica handgun.
