Crime & Safety
Gunshots Heard Near 2 MVUSD Schools Prompt Lockdowns
The lockdowns were lifted by about 1:20 p.m. Thursday when it was determined the gunshots were coming from a distance and not a danger to the campuses, authorities said.
Dorothy McElhinney Middle School and Lisa J. Mails Elementary School were placed on lockdown Thursday due to reports of gunshots near the campuses, according to authorities.
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District stated in a Facebook post that the lockdowns lasted approximately an hour, and were lifted by about 1:20 p.m. when it was determined that there was no danger to campus.
According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dean Spivacke, deputies responded to the area of Briggs Road to investigate where the gunshots may have been coming from.
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After an extensive search of the area, it was determined that someone must have been shooting a gun in nearby hills, possibly for hunting or target practice, the sergeant said.
"They were shooting a little too close to the school but they were not shooting at the school, on school grounds or at the direction of the school," Spivacke said.
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The MVUSD Facebook post stated that "students and staff are safe and there was no threat to their safety at any time during lockdown."
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