False Reports, 2 Lockdowns After Suspicious Person Seen Near Santa Rosa Academy

MENIFEE, CA — A sighting of a suspicious person Thursday near Santa Rosa Academy led to false reports of an intruder on campus at two schools in Menifee, forcing multiple lockdowns, authorities said.

The person appeared on video surveillance near the academy’s Sherman Road gate, Executive Director Robert Hennings said in a message to the school community.

“We could not immediately verify whether or not a person actually made it onto our campus,” Hennings said, adding the academy closed its inner gates and had safety staff check the school grounds.

Just as normal operations were about to resume, first responders arrived and ordered a lockdown after receiving calls that were later determined to be false, according to Hennings.

"Earlier today, a false report of an active shooter was called to the police," Andie Pasolini, director of communications and community relations for the academy, said in an email.

Hennings noted misinformation about the situation circulated on social media as well.

Officers were clearing the academy, located in the 27500 block of La Piedra Road, around noon, but shortly thereafter received a report that the suspicious person had moved to nearby Paloma Valley High School in the 31300 block of Bradley Road, according to police. This led to a second school being placed on lockdown, police said.

In both cases, the reports were deemed unfounded, with no intruders located at either school, according to police.

"We are working to identify the individuals who made the original reports," police said on Facebook.

Reunification at Santa Rosa Academy lasted about 90 minutes and the school will return to its regular schedule Friday, according to Hennings.

Paloma Valley students were set to be released Thursday at their usual dismissal time of 3:30 p.m.