Two central Fresno elementary schools briefly on lockdown after shots fired nearby

Williams and Roeding elementaries in central Fresno were on lockdown for about 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon when shots were fired at a nearby apartment complex.

Fresno police spokesman Joe Gomez said someone saw a suspect fire shots at the Las Palmas apartment complex near North Fruit Avenue and West Saginaw Way. Gomez said a structure was hit, but neither of the schools were impacted. The suspect fled in a white car going west on Saginaw.

Police found shell casings in the street near the apartment complex, Gomez said.

Fresno Unified School District spokesman Jed Chernabaeff said Williams was on lockdown from 2:12 to 2:44 p.m. at the request of Fresno police. Roeding went on lockdown from 2:20 to 2:50 p.m. as a precaution after staff noticed police helicopters in the area, he said. The district sent messages home informing parents of students at both schools about the incident.

Gomez said police did not find the suspect.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Two central Fresno elementary schools briefly on lockdown after shots fired nearby."