Full Notification

City of Lake Elsinore
Police Department
PRESS RELEASE

Date/Time Written: December 11, 2014 / 3:55 PM
Type of Incident: Suspected Firearm Discharged in Proximity of a School Site Incident
Date/Time of Incident: December 11, 2014 / 11:39 AM
Location of Incident: 32000 block of Lost Road, Lake Elsinore
Reporting Officer: Sergeant Ken Chaffin, (951) 245-3300
File Number: L14345060

Details:

On December 11th, 2014, at 11:39 AM, officer were dispatched to 32000 block of Lost Road, located in the city of Lake Elsinore, reference a report of possible gunshots heard in the area. The reporting party was indicated to be a school official calling from Cottonwood Canyon Elementary School. The school was placed in lock down status, pending investigation by law enforcement officials. As a precaution, nearby Canyon Lake Middle School was also placed on lock down status.

Working in cooperation with officials at both school sites, law enforcement conducted a safety sweep of the individual classrooms and exterior grounds. All students were accounted for. No victims were located. Law enforcement officials met with concerned parents at each site to answer questions and update them regarding the progress of the ongoing investigation.

Although Patrol Operation conducted a thorough search of the area and contacted numerous additional reporting parties, the source of the suspected gunfire could not be identified. Both school sites remained on lock down status until the investigation was concluded at 1:10 PM. Law enforcement officials remained posted at both location and assisted school officials with the release of students to their concerned parents.

The Lake Elsinore Police Department would like to remind the public it is a violation of the law to knowingly discharge a firearm within a school zone. Penal Code, section 626.9, is known as California’s Gun-Free School Zone Act. Enacted in 1995, this California firearms law prohibits citizens from possessing or discharging a firearm in a school zone. An area is a “school zone” if it is within 1,000 feet of public or private school grounds. The penalties for violating this law are severe and include substantial prison time if convicted of committing such an offense.

Anyone with additional information regarding these events is encouraged to contact Deputy Green, assigned to the School Resource Unit, at the Lake Elsinore Police Department by calling (951) 245-3300, or after hours and weekends by calling (951) 776-1099.

The Lake Elsinore Police Department would like to remind all citizens to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity, including any vehicle or persons, to law enforcement.