Marco Briefly Placed on Lockdown as Deputies Get Report of Shotgun in Area

Marco Forster Middle School was briefly on lockdown today as Orange County Sheriff’s deputies followed up on a tip there was a shotgun in a pickup truck nearby.

Lt. Jeff Hallock said the tip ultimately was unfounded, but because of the location of the supposed shotgun – on Camino del Avion between Del Obispo and Alipaz streets – deputies did make contact with the school.

“[The call itself] had nothing to do with the school. It was a proximity thing,” Hallock said.

Marco Principal Carrie Bertini sent out an email this afternoon to parents.

“At approximately 2:10 this afternoon we were placed in a lock down situation per advice from the Sheriff’s Department,” Bertini reported. “We responded immediately to the sheriff’s request.”

She did not go into detail about the “potentially dangerous situation.”

The lockdown was lifted by 2:20 p.m., Bertini said.

As deputies searched the area, an hour later, they “ironically” found a work truck that did not meet the description that had a handgun inside, Hallock said.

“I don’t think it was related to the original call,” Hallock said.