CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said it is continuing to investigate a Friday afternoon incident involving a gunfire exchange between two vehicles that led to a lockdown at a nearby school.
Sgt. Rodd Joseph said several Clearlake Police officers responded to the area of Redwood Street and Walnut Avenue just after 2 p.m. on reports of shots being fired between two vehicles.
He said witnesses reported that a white male adult, seated in the right front passenger seat of a gray sport utility vehicle or small van, was shooting a gun at occupants in a white sedan. Several callers reported that the firearm was a rifle.
The gray SUV/van was being driven by a white female adult with brown hair, Joseph said.
Both vehicles were last seen traveling at a high rate of speed east on Austin Road toward Old Highway 53, an area of town that's in close proximity to Burns Valley School, Joseph said.
As officers were responding to the call, Clearlake Police Dispatch contacted school staff at Burns Valley School and advised them of the public safety risk. With the information provided, school staff elected to place the school into temporary lockdown, according to Joseph.
He said it was reported that two classes of students were at Austin Park at the time of the lockdown and were temporarily relocated to Clearlake City Hall for safety reasons. This was done with the assistance of Stephanie Green, the Konocti Unified School District's school resource officer, who also a Clearlake Police officer.
Officers checked the area around the school and did not locate either involved vehicles, however, Joseph said they did interview numerous witnesses.
After checking the area, several police officers responded to Burns Valley School and cleared the campus. Once the campus was cleared, Burns Valley School officials reopened campus to release students, and Joseph said students and staff who had temporarily relocated to Clearlake City Hall returned to school.
Joseph said that during the incident, Clearlake Police Dispatch handled numerous calls from concerned and angry parents about the school lockdown.
He said the Clearlake Police Department did not issue or order the school lockdown and has no information about it, noting that the lockdown determination was made by school staff based on the information provided by the department.
However, Joseph said that while school staff made the decision to place the school into lockdown, it was the proper decision based on the information available at the time.
Because of the numerous calls from parents about the lockdown, Joseph said a call backup resulted for the dispatcher who was still trying to obtain critical information from witnesses about the shooting to relay to the responding officers.
Joseph said that parents should not contact the police department and tie up phone resources during a lockdown situation. Information about any lockdown will be provided by school staff and possibly by police once the situation is under control, he said.
Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to contact Clearlake Police Officer Leonardo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 542. Though it is encouraged for witnesses to provide their name and contact information, they may also remain anonymous, Joseph said.
Editor's note: The Clearlake Police has offered an updated version of this report, posted above, which states that the department agreed with the school's decision to lock down the school based on the available information.
Police issue update on investigation into vehicle gunfire exchange, school lockdown
- Lake County News reports
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