Sightings of a pedestrian wielding what appeared to be a rifle in several Escondido neighborhoods on Tuesday prompted lockdowns at five schools until authorities determined that the man had been carrying a pellet gun.
The first report of an apparently armed man wandering through the North County city was received by Escondido police about 11 a.m., Lt. Al Owens said.
Officers searched the area in question — at and around Kit Carson Park — but found no such person, Owens said.
About 1 p.m., another 911 caller made a similar report, telling police a man appeared to have fired a rifle toward a home in the 2200 block of Conway Street.
Campus officials instituted lockdowns at nearby Calvin Christian High School along with Conway, North Broadway, Reidy Creek and Rincon elementary schools while officers began searching surrounding neighborhoods.
About 45 minutes later, a man called police to report that he was the person they were looking for and that he had been carrying an airsoft-style pellet gun, the lieutenant said.
The 50-year-old suspect, whose name was not immediately available, went to Escondido police headquarters to be interviewed. He was facing a possible vandalism charge, since he apparently had fired at the Conway Street home, cracking a window, Owens said.
