Suspect sought after shooting incident that sparked school lockdowns

Four Clark County School District campuses were placed on lockdown for more than three hours Monday after an assailant fired gunshots at a North Las Vegas police officer.

Sgt. Tim Bedwell said Desert Rose Adult High School, Jeffrey Behavior Junior/Senior High School, and Mackey and Fitzgerald elementary schools were secured by 2:54 p.m. All four campuses are west of Interstate 15 and south of Cheyenne Avenue.

Bedwell said a young man shot at a police officer, a city worker and two people being investigated for illegal dumping in the desert near Revere Street and Reverend Wilson Avenue. The assailant fired the shots from behind a wall. The officer did not return fire and no one was injured in the incident.

The schools were reopened without police apprehending the suspect.

Bedwell said the lockdown was lifted about 6:20 p.m. He said the safety of the students and residents was the priority for police.

“We know it’s an inconvenience, but anybody willing to shoot at a group of people including a police officer is dangerous to the community at large,” Bedwell said. “We didn’t want to release children in the midst of that.”

Police unsuccessfully searched nearby homes and backyards for the suspect and a weapon.

The suspect was described as a black man, about 160 pounds and 5 feet 8 inches tall. He was seen wearing a beanie, a black jacket and blue jeans.

Monday was the second shooting involving a North Las Vegas police officer in the past two days.

Early Sunday, an officer who responded to a house party at the 4800 block of Esperanza Way, was struck by a 16-year-old boy who drove a vehicle directly at him, police said. The officer fired his gun but did not hit the juvenile. The teenager was booked on a charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.