LA MESA (CBS 8) - A man was taken into custody after calling 911 to inquire about a school shooting at Helix High in La Mesa.
Authorities traced the call to a home on El Mio Drive in El Cajon, subsequently took David Schreiner, 47, into protective custody.
On Friday evening, police removed more than 40 firearms, as well as ammunition, from Schreiner's residence.
Schreiner remains under observation, and will be tested for mental stability. He can be detained for 72 hours, according to El Cajon Police, and potentially longer, if medical authorities determine it is necessary.
Earlier Friday, Schreiner allegedly called police asking if there had been a shooting at the school.
Authorities immediately locked down the La Mesa school campus until they determined the suspect was mentally unstable.
"We were able to confirm that no shooting had occurred at Helix High School, and when we attempted to ask probative questions of the subject, he hung up," Lt. Jeff Arvan said.
Nervous parents rushed to the school to see if their children were safe. It turns out there was no shooter and no one was hurt. Classes at Helix High resumed at about 12:30 p.m.
"We all freaked out because we thought it was just a drill and our principal was like, this is not a drill," student Adrienne Jones said.
"There have been all of these shootings... the shootings in Arizona, you know, people are doing crazy things for no reason so I'm nervous. So that's why I'm out here," a parent said.
Investigators say it doesn't appear Schreiner never made threats or committed any crimes, but was taken away for mental evaluation. Authorities also took some registered firearms from his El Mio Drive home.
Jim and Rose Bunch, who live across the street from Schreiner, called police after they said he was acting strangely outside his home Friday morning.
"When I went over to see him I said 'What's going on?' and he said 'You know what's going on' and he told me to get the (expletive) back in my house," Jim Bunch said.
"We've had some run-ins with him over the past six months. I would say this is your opportunity to get help, and don't be ashamed. If you need help, get help because if you don't get help it's only downhill from here," Rose Bunch said.
