An assault suspect was arrested after trading gunfire with San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies at an Apple Valley home on Wednesday morning, with the exchange unfolding close enough to Rancho Verde Elementary School that the campus was placed on lockdown.
Assault Call Turns Into Gunfire
The confrontation began after deputies responded to a report of an assault in which a man had assaulted his neighbor, according to the Victorville Daily Press. As deputies instructed the suspect to exit his residence, shots were fired at deputies, who returned fire, the paper reported, citing the sheriff’s department. The shooting happened in the 22000 block of Hurons Avenue, just west of Rancho Verde Elementary School.
Accounts of the exact timing of the gunfire differ slightly between outlets. The Daily Press reported the shooting happened shortly after 9 a.m., while VVNG reported the incident unfolded at approximately 8:55 a.m. Despite the exchange of gunfire, neither the suspect nor any deputies were injured during the incident, the Daily Press reported.
School Locked Down as Precaution
Because the gunfire erupted so close to campus, Rancho Verde Elementary School was placed on lockdown due to the incident’s close proximity, according to VVNG. Authorities said there was no immediate threat to the area once the situation was contained, VVNG reported.
The suspect was ultimately taken into custody at the scene, ending the standoff without further violence. Beyond the assault report that prompted deputies’ initial response, further details about what led to the confrontation have not been released.
Specialized Unit Now Investigating
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division has assumed responsibility for the investigation, per VVNG's report. No additional information about the case has been made public as the inquiry continues.
