Central Fresno school locked after gang member fires on rivals

A gang member reportedly opened fire on rivals in a car directly in front of a downtown Fresno elementary school Thursday morning, sending police scrambling as school officials locked down Akira Yokomi Elementary.

Police arrested Deonte Cooke, 22, about a block away from the shooting scene at East McKenzie Avenue and North Thesta Street, but were searching yard to yard for the weapon, according to Lt. Mark Hudson.

Gunfire erupted about 10:20 a.m. Hudson said Cooke fired four shots at a car near the intersection. The driver of the vehicle slammed the vehicle in reverse and backed up north on Thesta Street. It was not clear whether bullets struck the car or passengers inside.

Hudson said the car and driver and any passengers remain at large. Other officers said no one had checked into nearby Community Regional Medical Center.

There were no immediate reports of bullets hitting the school.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Central Fresno school locked after gang member fires on rivals."