Eisenhower High School was placed under a Shelter in Place on January 23, 2026 following a reported school threat. While the exact time the call was made remains unknown, the timing of the response placed the campus under a shelter in place just minutes before students were scheduled to leave for the day. The Shelter in Place was initiated at 3:21 PM, only two minutes before the regular dismissal time of 3:23 PM. As a result, dismissal was immediately halted as law enforcement responded to the situation and secured the campus.
Rialto Police Department units quickly arrived at Eisenhower, with approximately ten squad cars present on campus. California High Patrol K-9 units were also on the scene, though no K-9s were deployed during the search. Officers established a secure perimeter around the school, blocking Lilac Avenue in both directions roughly 50 yards away from school grounds.
Officers conducted an armed and methodical sweep of the campus to ensure there was no active threat. Police were seen carrying long guns as they searched buildings and surrounding areas. The sweep included elevated locations such as rooftops, as well as thorough searches of the A and B buildings. The search was conducted carefully before any students and staff were allowed to leave campus.
Students remained in classrooms for approximately an hour and a half after Shelter in Place began. Many students shared different testimonies of their experiences during the lockdown. Stated by Jaylani Whitfield, “I knew we weren’t in danger, It was one of those things where you have to read the environment and tone of our teachers on campus.” Channelle Louder shared a different sentiment as she said, “I was scared…people kept talking about all of us getting taken by ICE. A rumor of ICE being the reason for the shelter in place was spreading which made people even more fearful of what would come next. “Everyone took it as a joke and couldn’t be serious…they were making jokes about people dying, but that’s how people cope I guess,” shared Karla Mendez. “I was more scared of ICE being there. Many dealt with the anxiety and fear of the situation in various ways such as student Gianni Vergara who said, “I was scared so I went tiktok live.” Student Allison Castaneda shared her experience stating that, “It was so insane having to hear and see myself be afraid of what was going on is such a horrible experience that no one should have to go through” Once the shelter in place was completed, students and staff were then able to exit the school.
Clearing of students occurred classroom by classroom, starting with the A and B buildings. Older and farther buildings were cleared later in the process. Once law enforcement confirmed the campus was secure, students were released normally. During the process, parents and guardians gathered near the southern parking lot, waiting for students to be released. Students were released in stages as each area of campus was cleared.
Eisenhower High School remained shut down for the rest of the day. All after-school activities and practices were cancelled before they could begin. Many families were still anxious from the situations wondering what had really happened. Eisenhower High Schools principal, Mrs. Henriquez-Pulido, released a statement to families later in the night.
