A man armed with a handgun in a parked car in a La Jolla neighborhood “surrendered peacefully” at about 4:15 p.m. April 22 after crisis negotiators worked for hours trying to persuade him to disarm, according to San Diego police Lt. Bryan Brecht.
Residents near the scene in the 2000 block of Via Casa Alta near La Jolla Scenic Drive South were directed to remain in their homes during the incident, which began around midday. The situation also led several local schools to institute lockdowns as a precaution.
A SWAT team and a K-9 (police dog) unit were dispatched to the location due to the presence of the man, who reportedly was armed and suicidal.
Police Lt. Daniel Meyer told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the man, whom he described as in his 20s or 30s, parked on the side of the road in a Ford Focus. Officers confirmed he had a firearm, Meyer said.
Police were “taking our time to make sure we get a successful resolution without violence, and keeping the community safe while doing so,” Meyer said.
Meyer did not comment about the man’s possible motivations.
Via Casa Alta was closed between La Jolla Scenic Drive South and Upper Hillside Drive, he said.
Chuck Podhorsky, principal of La Jolla High School at 750 Nautilus St. — about two miles from the scene — told the La Jolla Light that the school temporarily kept everyone on campus but has since lifted the lockdown.
“We take student safety very seriously at La Jolla [High] and have a robust set of protocols to help our students in an emergency,” Podhorsky said.
San Diego Unified School District spokesman James Canning said Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla Elementary ed La Jolla High among the district’s schools that went on temporary lockdown, though the lockdowns have been lifted
SDUSD’s other schools in La Jolla are Bird Rock Elementary, which did not lock down, and Torrey Pines Elementary, which did not respond to an inquiry from the Light.
Jeff Luna, principal of Muirlands Middle School, which is next to La Jolla High, said school police ed him at about 12:35 p.m. and told him to lock down the campus.
“I got a little bit of information from school police, but when they tell you to do that, we act upon it right away,” Luna said.
Officials at Bird Rock and La Jolla Elementary did not comment in detail.
The schools closest to the scene are private schools: San Diego French-American, All Hallows Academy and The Evans School, all roughly a half-mile south.
SDFAS locked down for any staff on campus, but students were on their last day of spring break, so none of them were present, the school said.
The Evans School also locked down but provided no additional information.
All Hallows Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial, about a half-mile east of the scene, was largely unaffected, though Executive Director Neil O’Connell said a service was taking place at the memorial when police arrived in the area.
“It was a little nerve-wracking for us and for our attendees,” O’Connell said. “We could hear police sirens and helicopters, but we were not told to cease operations or evacuate. People were listening to the service, but we really didn’t know what was happening or what would happen next.”
He said the police activity nearby could be seen from the memorial atop Mount Soledad.
The memorial and the surrounding park remained open, and those attending the service were instructed to take Via Capri when they left, O’Connell said. ♦
