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Public Safety

Threat Prompts Lockdown At Three Lakeside Schools

A woman's alleged threat to carry out a shooting at an unspecified Lakeside school Thursday prompted authorities to lock children in their classrooms at three campuses in the East County town while investigators tracked down and arrested the suspected perpetrator.

The menacing statements were reported shortly after noon, according to sheriff's officials.

Administrators instituted lockdowns at Lindo Park elementary, Tierra del Sol middle and El Capitan high schools while deputies searched for the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Sarah Joy Lomaintewa, Lt. George Calderon said.

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Within 90 minutes, the security measures were lifted, and students were being bused to a nearby commercial parking lot for pickup by their parents.

Shortly before 4 p.m., deputies found Lomaintewa in the area of Ashwood and Mapleview streets, near the south end of the high school, and took her into custody, Calderon said. She was expected to be booked on suspicion of making criminal threats.

No suspected motive was released, nor was it revealed how Lomaintewa was identified as the alleged perpetrator.

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