Fresno police lock down two downtown schools after man seen with gun
Two schools near Fresno’s downtown were locked down by police on Friday after a man was seen with a gun, according to officers.
The incident began near Stanislaus and B streets about 10:30 a.m., when police said a man fired a gun at a second man, according to Sgt. Diana Trueba Vega.
Police initially reported that single bullet grazed the second man, but he did not need to be taken to a hospital. Police clarified later Friday that the victim had actually been hit by shrapnel in the leg.
The man with the gun, meanwhile, fled east across Highway 99 and was seen near Kepler Neighborhood School at Stanislaus and Broadway holding the weapon, police said. He threatened a teacher at the school also, police said.
Kepler and Columbia Elementary near the shooting scene were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
The man holed up near Kepler and police negotiated with him for about 45 minutes, Trueba Vega said, before he surrendered without further incident.
He was identified as Michael Thomas, 33.
Thomas was arrested for charges related to the shooting as well as narcotics possession and violation of supervised probation.
This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 1:27 PM.
