San Diego

Pursuit Suspect Found Hiding in Bathroom of Locked Down Elementary School in Chollas View

A suspect wanted by police was seen on foot near Gompers Preparatory Academy and Horton Elementary School in Chollas View, prompting lockdowns on both campuses

A suspect being pursued by law enforcement in San Diego’s Chollas View community Tuesday was found in the bathroom of an elementary school bathroom while the campus was on lockdown.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said the suspect was, at first, being pursued by car by deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO).

A deputy from the Lemon Grove substation spotted the suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Raheem Jackson, speeding on eastbound State Route 94 near the Euclid Avenue exit and attempted to make a traffic stop.

Jackson resisted the traffic stop and sped off and eventually crashed into the median that divides the Euclid Avenue on and offramps, according to deputies.

The SDSO said the suspect fled the crash on foot and ran onto the campus of Gompers Preparatory Academy on 47th Street and near Horton Elementary School on Guymon Street.

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) spokesperson Maureen Magee soon confirmed that both schools had been placed on lockdown as a precaution. Magee said other nearby schools were not on lockdown.

Officials canvassed the campuses and the areas near the schools by ground and helicopter and eventually found Jackson hiding in a bathroom on the Gompers campus.

Just after 2 p.m., police confirmed Jackson had been arrested. Consequently, Magee said the lockdowns at both schools had been lifted.

NBC 7 was at the scene as the handcuffed suspect was led into the back of an SDSO patrol car.

No injuries were reported. 

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