Officers responded to a potential threat at The San Diego Zoo on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said. Officers said a call was transferred around 1:10 p.m. from the California City Police Department to San Diego dispatch about a man who reportedly threatened to shoot animals and people at the zoo.
According to the San Diego Police Department, a person called police in Kern County at around 1:10 p.m. and said they were planning a shooting at the San Diego Zoo’s lion enclosure. The caller stated that he was at the zoo in front of the lion’s exhibit and was armed with a gun, police said.
SDPD dispatched units to the zoo and secured the area. Officers checked security footage and searched the area, but they said they did not locate a suspect and deemed the area clear after about 36 minutes from the initial call.
“Today, we were made aware of a potentially dangerous threat directed at the San Diego Zoo. Upon investigation, the San Diego Police Department determined it was a hoax and there is no active threat to guests at this time,” The San Diego Zoo said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our wildlife, team members, and guests remain our highest priority. We appreciate the understanding and support of our community during this time.”
