According to the Coronado Police Department, officers responded around 6:53 pm Saturday evening to reports of a man pointing what appeared to be a handgun at people near the 1000 block of Orange Avenue, just steps from The Henry all day bar and restaurant. With assistance from the San Diego Police Department’s ABLE helicopter, officers located and detained the individual without incident. The object that witnesses believed to be a firearm was later determined to be a lighter manufactured to resemble a handgun.
Police said the suspect, a 46-year-old man who is on parole and had an active misdemeanor warrant, was booked on that warrant. No shots were fired, no injuries occurred, and no real firearms were found at the scene.
Despite the department’s statement, early social media chatter fueled inaccurate reports of a shooting, a car left running in a loading zone, and even allegations of multiple assault rifles in a vehicle. Witness accounts in neighborhood groups varied widely, with some residents describing someone “high on something” parking erratically and others repeating claims of gunfire. Police say none of those details were substantiated.
The Henry, which opened its Coronado location in 2019 as part of Fox Restaurant Concepts’ regional expansion, has remained busy through the holiday weekend and was operating normally following the incident. The restaurant group - now owned by The Cheesecake Factory - continues to grow its footprint in San Diego County, including a new Carlsbad location opening this summer.
Coronado police emphasized that while officers responded quickly due to the nature of the reports, the situation did not involve a shooting or the recovery of any actual weapons. The department also urged residents to rely on official updates when incidents occur, particularly when misinformation spreads rapidly online.
Originally published November 30, 2025.
