San Pasqual Elementary Lockdown Leads to Arrest in Child Endangerment Investigation

Winterhaven CA - Pasqual Elementary School was placed on lockdown Friday afternoon after reports surfaced that an elementary-aged student may have been in possession of a firearm in their backpack, according to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO).

Deputies from the ICSO Winterhaven station responded to the school at approximately 12:57 p.m. on March 14. While no direct threats were made, school staff took precautionary measures and initiated a lockdown while authorities investigated the situation. Parents were promptly notified through digital alerts.

During the investigation, law enforcement discovered a photo on a student’s phone showing another student holding a firearm. In response, ICSO deputies, assisted by the Quechan Police Department and a Customs and Border Protection firearms detection K9 unit, conducted a thorough search of the school campus. No firearms were found, and after ensuring the premises were secure, the lockdown was lifted. Students were safely released to their parents, guardians, or designated rides.

One individual was arrested for child endangerment and booked into the Imperial County Jail. ICSO stated that the investigation remains open and ongoing.

“This situation was handled with the utmost care, and the safety of the students is the top priority,” ICSO said in a statement, emphasizing that all threats against schools are taken seriously.

Anyone with additional information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the ICSO Investigations Division at 442-265-2045.