Bomb Threat Phoned in Against West Hills High School Prompts Lengthy Lockdown

The suspect claimed there were four backpacks placed on campus that were going to detonate

A very specific bomb threat was phoned into West Hills High School in Santee Tuesday by a person claiming to be a victim of bullying, prompting a lengthy lockdown on campus and a massive response from law enforcement.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed an unknown suspect called a threat into the school around 9:15 a.m. saying he or she was going to do something violent to that particular school.

Sheriff's department spokesperson Jan Caldwell said the person claimed there were four backpacks placed on campus that were going to detonate. The caller, who sounded like a young man, said he was sick of being bullied, Caldwell said.

Immediately, the high school was placed on lockdown while deputies and officers from multiple different agencies conducted an extensive search for any suspicious devices or bags in the area.

By 11:10 a.m., officials confirmed suspicious backpacks and boxes had been found at four different locations on campus: the library, a science building, the swimming pool area and the entrance's flag circle.

The objects were still being inspected as of 11:30 a.m. By 1 p.m. school district officials confirmed the packages that were investigated ultimately posed no threat.

The Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD) communications office shared some details of the lockdown via Twitter throughout the morning. At 9:30 a.m., the office tweeted that law enforcement was investigating the threat.

At 10:15 a.m., GUHSD communications tweeted: "Normal safety protocols are in place at West Hills High School. Students are safe. Thx for patience while law enforcement investigates."

The communications office also confirmed, in a tweet, that students were "safe in locked classrooms," and had not been evacuated to a nearby church as another news outlet reported.

At 11:25 a.m., GUHSD communications posted another update to Twitter thanking parents and students for their patience.

"Lockdown continues as normal safety protocols are conducted at West Hills High School. Students are safe in classrooms," the message read. 

Meanwhile, dozens upon dozens of law enforcement officers descended on the school, including buses from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and officials in bomb squad gear.

Between 20 to 30 school buses were parked along Mast Boulevard, lining the entrance to the school as officials investigated.

At 10:35 a.m., law enforcement could be seen scouring the bleachers at the school's football field and surrounding areas with K-9s.

Minutes later, officials in bomb squad gear could be seen searching the school's swimming pool area, including bathrooms. A K-9 also swam in the pool as part of the search.

Shoes and gym bags, presumably belonging to students, were left behind in the pool area amid the lockdown. Officials began inspecting those bags.

Meanwhile, in another area of the campus a group of law enforcement officials gathered around an unmarked vehicle studying what appeared to be a map of the campus.

West Hills High School is located at 8756 Mast Blvd. in the east San Diego community of Santee. According to the school's website, 11th grade English State Testing was scheduled for Tuesday. School began at 7:15 a.m.

The sheriff's department said no other schools were mentioned in the phone threat.

At noon, the GUHSD communications office said via Twitter that dismissal for students with a 12:37 p.m. release time would be delayed.

"An All-Call message will update parents as details become available. Thx for patience," the tweet continued.

By 12:25 p.m., the communications office confirmed West Hills High School had been "downgraded to secure campus." The GUHSD Twitter feed said, again, that all students were safe.

By 1 p.m., many students were being released from school.

GUHSD communications officials said parents could pick up students with the 12:37 p.m. release time at Mast Boulevard and Medina Drive. The flag circle at the front entrance of the school remained closed. Meanwhile, classes resumed for students with a 7th period schedule.

GUHSD communications confirmed that bomb squad officials had checked all suspicious packages on campus and "no credible threat was found."

The investigation is ongoing, with detectives trying to trace the identity of the caller. The sheriff's department said that caller will face serious consequences for making the threat.

No one was injured in Tuesday's ordeal at the school.

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