Weapon Recovered At Chula Vista Middle School After Students Report Finding Bullet On Campus

Less than two weeks after the deadly mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego heightened concerns about public safety across the region, a South Bay middle school briefly implemented emergency security protocols Thursday after students reported finding a bullet on campus and hearing allegations that another student may have been carrying a weapon.

According to an email sent to parents by administrators at Rancho del Rey Middle School in Chula Vista, the incident began during the lunch period when two students reported discovering a bullet on school grounds.

School officials said they immediately contacted Sweetwater Union High School District Safety and Security personnel as well as the Chula Vista Police Department. Shortly afterward, additional students reportedly informed administrators that they had overheard conversations suggesting a student may have brought a weapon onto campus.

Out of what administrators described as an abundance of caution, the school contacted 911 and implemented both its Suspected Weapon and Secure Campus protocols while law enforcement investigated.

“Law enforcement safely identified the student believed to be in possession of the weapon and recovered the weapon without incident,” school officials wrote in their notification to families. “At no time was there a direct threat made toward students or staff.”

The school did not disclose what type of weapon was recovered, whether the student was arrested, how the weapon entered campus, or whether any criminal charges are being considered.

The incident comes amid heightened community sensitivity surrounding school and public safety following the May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont that left three people dead and shook communities across the region. While authorities have emphasized that Thursday's incident at Rancho del Rey Middle School was resolved without violence and involved no direct threats, the discovery of ammunition and the subsequent recovery of a weapon on a middle school campus is likely to raise concerns among parents already on edge following recent events.

School officials credited students for reporting the initial discovery and subsequent concerns, noting that prompt reporting allowed administrators and law enforcement to respond quickly.

“We also want to thank our students and families for continuing to speak up when they see or hear something concerning,” administrators wrote. “Reporting concerns promptly helps us respond quickly and maintain a safe learning environment for everyone.”

The school also praised the response from the Chula Vista Police Department, School Resource Officers, and district security personnel.

Rancho del Rey Middle School is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District and serves students in grades 7 and 8 in eastern Chula Vista.

SanDiegoVille has reached out to the Chula Vista Police Department and Sweetwater Union High School District seeking additional information regarding the nature of the weapon recovered, whether any arrests were made, and whether criminal charges are anticipated. This story will be updated if additional details become available.

Originally published on May 28, 2026.