Gun scare prompts lockdowns of 3 schools in Pahrump

Within hours of the deadly attack in Las Vegas, authorities in Pahrump were forced to lock down one school and investigate reports of guns at two others.

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the incident in the town 60 miles west of Las Vegas began Monday morning when deputies spotted wanted felon Duane Johnson at Manse Elementary School. As they approached him, he ran into the school, prompting a lockdown there.

While they searched for Johnson, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man with a gun at Floyd Elementary, 15 miles away.

Deputies were investigating that call when another report came in of a man with a gun at Clarke Middle School, not far from the first school where Johnson was spotted.

All of the schools were searched and the reports determined to be unfounded. Johnson got away.

The sheriff’s office said the 29-year-old has “a violent past.” Lt. David Boruchowitz said Johnson is wanted for battery with substantial bodily harm.

There is no indication Johnson was involved in the false reports about the other schools, Boruchowitz said.

He said deputies ended up searching all schools in Pahrump, including private schools and ones not involved in the calls, “as a precaution.”

The agency is asking anyone who knows his whereabouts to call dispatch at 775-751-7000 but advised against making contact with Johnson.

On Sunday night, a gunman shot at a crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas, killing at least 59 people and wounding more than 520.

Contact Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Follow @RefriedBrean on Twitter.