Gunman outside school was off-duty officer: I-Team
PAINESVILLE, Ohio (WJW) — Authorities are investigating a shooting that took place in a local elementary school parking lot on Thursday. The FOX 8 I-Team was the first to break the story.
Cleveland police officials confirmed to the FOX 8 I-Team that an off-duty Cleveland police officer was taken into custody at the scene.
Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno in a Thursday social media post identified the officer as Alexander Sinclair.
The shooting took place shortly after 9 a.m. outside Riverview Elementary School in Painesville Township.
Riverside Schools released new information Thursday afternoon:
“At about 9:10 a.m., Riverview Elementary was placed on lockdown due to a domestic issue that began off-site and then carried into the parking lot of Riverview Elementary,” the district said in a statement. “During this dispute, a shot was fired near the vehicles involved in the parking lot, away from the school toward Madison Avenue. The shot was not fired in the direction of the school. As a result, no major injuries were reported.”
The school was placed on lockdown as law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Leonbruno said the deputy assigned as the school’s resource officer learned of the disturbance and approached two vehicles believed to be involved. He then heard a single gunshot.
He saw a man outside the vehicle with a gun and ordered him to drop the weapon. The man dropped the gun and a deputy detained him.
Sources told the I-Team that the incident started as a fight between adults.
Leonbruno said Sinclair’s vehicle had collided with the other vehicle, and that’s when Sinclair approached the passenger side of the other vehicle, shooting a round through the car’s windshield. The gunshot was fired away from the school, he said.
No one was shot, according to the I-Team, however, the incident resulted in a deputy with a hand injury, and a woman and child being taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution, although they were reportedly not injured.
Sources told the I-Team Sinclair was Tased by a school resource officer and transported to a hospital as well.
He has since been booked into the Lake County jail, awaiting arraignment on charges related to the shooting, Leonbruno said.
“It is important to recognize the relationship the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has with the Riverside Local School District and the hard work which has been done to ensure a Deputy is assigned to every school in the district,” Leonbruno wrote. “Without this arrangement, the deputy would not have been on scene nearly as fast to take the heroic actions he did in ensuring all children and staff were safe. His quick and decisive response certainly prevented this incident from further escalation.”
Shortly after 10 a.m., Riverview Elementary School posted on X that there was no further threat and the school was no longer on lockdown.
“The school day will continue as normal, however, if parents would like to pick up their child, they can come to the school and sign them out,” read the post.
“We want to confirm that there was no threat made toward staff or students at any time,” Riverside Schools said. “All safety protocols were implemented and followed. Local law enforcement agencies remained on scene throughout the morning to assist with classroom and building safety checks, directing traffic and helping student check-out. In addition, grief counselors from Signature Health were called to the school and were available for any students or staff who wanted to speak with someone. Madison Avenue was re-opened around noon.”
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