Armed robbery leads to school lockdown, standoff in central valley

A handful of people with guns stormed a local pawn shop, robbed the business and fled to a nearby house Thursday afternoon, leading to a barricade situation at the home and a several-hour lockdown for elementary students down the street, police said.

The barricade was lifted about 6 p.m., when SWAT determined no one else was in the 1501 N. Tonopah Drive home and the students at Hoggard Elementary School were allowed to safely leave with their parents. Some Metropolitan Police Department officers escorted children home who lived nearby.

Though the SWAT situation ended without incident, Metro Lt. Jack Clements said it started with a "scary" take-over style robbery at the Super Pawn at 7585 W. Washington Ave. A witness said four men with guns entered, held the people inside at gunpoint and stole money from the register, though Clements said no customers or employees were hurt.

In less than an hour, police were led to the central valley home where the robbers fled "as a result of an investigation that was conducted by the robbery section and detectives from several different area commands," Clements said.

"Contact was made with the house, and after about 45 minutes a number of subjects exited the house," Clements said. "We did not know at the time if there were any other people in the residence, but due to the fact the people that committed the robbery were armed, we requested the SWAT team."

Thelma Jackson, 51, was inside the home during the robbery. She was heading out for a mammogram appointment when her son and nephews arrived and police showed shortly after.

Jackson repeatedly insisted her son and nephews did not commit the robbery. "The cops showed me a picture. They weren't wearing the same clothes, the same shoes," she said over and over.

"Question my son, book him, they'll let him out," she said. "It's so embarrassing. It don't make sense."

As she continued to talk about her family, two loud bangs went off as SWAT tried to coax people who may still be inside the home to exit. A car alarm went off from the noise.

"There's nobody in my (expletive) house!" she yelled. "Just don't bust my windows!"

For hours, police detained a few people who had exited the home, including Jackson's son and nephews. Clements said a few people were arrested and booked by about 6 p.m. but he did not name them or specify how many.

Just as the barricade began, nearby homes were evacuated "as a precaution," Metro officer Laura Meltzer said.

Around that time, the elementary school went on lockdown along with Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy and Advanced Technologies Academy, but the two high schools' lockdowns were lifted earlier in the afternoon, Clark County School District police Capt. Ken Young said. Hoggard was about a third of a mile down the street from the barricade.

Renata Haley, whose 5-year-old daughter attends the elementary school's pre-K program, first heard of the lockdown from her mother-in-law, who typically picks up her daughter after school. While she was concerned, Haley said she was able to communicate with her daughter's teacher about the situation.

"She was able to give me some peace of mind," Haley said.

Haley said the situation was "handled pretty well, I guess," adding that this was her first lockdown and didn't have a comparison. She said that the lockdown made her want an update to the notification system, saying that parents of the nearly 450 students enrolled at Hoggard this school year "need a better way to find out what happens."

That night, the Super Pawn store remained closed because of "unforeseen events," a sign on the door read. "We will resume normal business hours 01/29/16."

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com and 702-387-5290. Find her own Twitter: @rachaelacrosby. Contact Christian Bertolaccini at cbertolaccini@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @bertolaccinic.