LORAIN, Ohio — A suspect is in custody following a shooting that forced multiple Lorain City Schools to go on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
Police say the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. as students were being dismissed from Washington Elementary School on West 23rd Street. School Resource Officer Nick Gerace was monitoring the dismissal when he reported hearing two gunshots and seeing a man across the street fire more bullets at a nearby vehicle.
As Gerace chased the suspect through the neighborhood, Washington "as well as additional schools in the area" (including Hawthorne Elementary) were placed under a Level 1 lockdown, meaning all students and staff were instructed to stay inside classrooms with hallways cleared. SWAT officers later raided a home on West 22nd Street and found the alleged shooter inside, where he was taken into custody.
"I would like to commend Officer Gerace for running toward the gunfire at great personal risk, and to the members of the Lorain Police Department for their quick and decisive response to this situation that ended with the arrest of the suspect," Police Chief Jim McCann said in a statement.
No one was hurt in the incident, and all students were released by 5 p.m. The school district says nearby Gen. Johnnie Wilson Middle School, where classes were scheduled to run until 3:30, was also on alert.
"We thank you for your patience as the Lorain Police Department addressed an incident in our community," Lorain City Schools wrote on Facebook. "We understand the nature of lockdowns can be alarming. Please know that we operate out of an abundance of caution for those that we love. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority."
The suspect's name has not been released and officials have not specified what charges he might be facing.