Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office investigates incident at Christopher Columbus High School; false alarm prompts security review

What happened at the Westchester campus

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Christopher Columbus High School in Westchester on March 25, 2025, after a report that prompted an on-campus law enforcement response. The school is located at 3000 SW 87th Avenue.

Following an investigation at the scene, the Sheriff’s Office determined the call was unfounded. The response nonetheless triggered heightened concern among families as the situation developed during the school day, reflecting how rapidly school-safety alerts can disrupt normal operations even when no direct threat is ultimately confirmed.

How the school responded during the alert

In a subsequent campus communication to its community, school leadership said an active-shooter alert system had been mistakenly engaged and that the school treated the activation as a real emergency while it was being assessed. The school reported that students were secured in a lockdown environment within minutes and that law enforcement arrived shortly thereafter.

The school indicated that existing emergency planning and coordination with law enforcement were central to the response, and that procedures would continue to be evaluated for effectiveness.

Law enforcement focus: determining origin and intent

Authorities have treated similar incidents across South Florida as serious disruptions that can strain public-safety resources regardless of whether an initial report is later deemed unfounded. In the Columbus case, deputies’ determination that the call was unfounded resolves the immediate question of whether a threat existed on campus, but it does not automatically answer how or why the report was generated.

In many school-related responses, investigators seek to establish whether an incident stems from misunderstanding, accidental activation of safety systems, or intentional misuse of emergency reporting. When intentional, such events may fall into the broader category of hoax-related calls that can trigger large-scale police deployments.

Why false alarms still carry real consequences

• Operational disruption: Lockdowns and searches can interrupt instruction, athletics, and after-school activities.

• Community impact: Even short-lived alerts can prompt parents to rush to campus and heighten anxiety for students and staff.

• Resource allocation: A concentrated response at one location can temporarily divert personnel from other calls for service.

School safety incidents often evolve quickly: initial reports drive urgent action, while later findings determine whether there was an actual threat.

What’s next

Authorities asked anyone with information related to the incident or similar cases to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. No injuries were reported in connection with the March 25 response, and the Sheriff’s Office conclusion that the call was unfounded indicates no confirmed on-campus threat was found during the investigation.

For families and schools, the event underscores the continuing emphasis on rapid lockdown capability, verification procedures, and coordination with law enforcement when alerts are triggered—whether by error or by a report that does not ultimately substantiate.