Full Notification

Just after noon today March 12, 2018, at the end of the lunch period, deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and UCSB Police Department responded to a report of possible shots fired near a classroom at San Marcos High School. Once on scene, deputies initiated an immediate school lockdown and guided other students into nearby classrooms and the gymnasium. A systematic sweep and search of the school campus was conducted and the source of the noises heard was quickly determined to be a firework ignited in the quad area. The lockdown was subsequently lifted.

Sheriff’s deputies are working closely with San Marcos High School Administrators and the Santa Barbara Unified School District to identify the suspect(s) in this case. The Sheriff’s Office has several persons of interest and continues to investigate. The Sheriff’s Office requests anyone with information regarding this case to contact call 805-683-2724 or to leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171 or go to https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind students and the public that placing, throwing or igniting fireworks is illegal pursuant to 12680(a) of the Health and Safety Code. In addition to school disciplinary measures, conviction can lead to fines and/or imprisonment in the County jail.

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