Chula Vista Daily: School threat cleared, new food pantry announced, and police chief draws support

Public safety: Mater Dei lockdown lifted after threat call

Mater Dei Catholic High School in East Chula Vista briefly went into lockdown Thursday afternoon after the school received an anonymous threat call referencing a possible shooting and bomb threat, police said.

Officers conducted a sweep of the campus with school security, including the use of a drone and K-9 units for a bomb check. Police reported no threat was found, and campus restrictions were lifted later in the afternoon. The incident remains under investigation.

Community: City launches first city-operated food pantry

Chula Vista is opening what it calls the South Bay’s first city-operated food pantry, based inside the Civic Center Chula Vista Public Library. City leaders marked the opening this week through a partnership with Catholic Charities, aiming to make reliable food support easier to access in a familiar public space.

• Location: Civic Center Library, 365 F St.
• Official opening: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
• Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 7 p.m.

Residents will need to register ahead of time online or by phone through the partner program. City officials pointed to heavy turnout at prior pop-up distributions as a sign that ongoing, predictable hours are needed.

City Hall: Residents rally around police chief

More than a dozen residents gathered outside City Hall and signed up to speak during the February 24 City Council meeting, urging leaders to keep Police Chief Roxana Kennedy in her role amid reports and rumors about her job security.

The city said the chief is on approved personal leave and disputed claims that elected officials pressured staff to replace her for political reasons. The matter was expected to be discussed in closed session, limiting what could be shared publicly.

Sources

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mater-dei-catholic-high-school-001829689.html
• https://www.chulavistaca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4027/17
• https://www.kpbs.org/news/economy/2026/02/26/chula-vista-catholic-charities-diocese-debut-food-pantry-at-library
• https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/chula-vista-residents-rally-support-embattled-police-chief/3986021/