Reported shooting prompts heightened security at nearby Lubbock elementary

An apparent drive-by shooting with no injuries near a home at 31st Street and Louisville Avenue prompted a heightened-security response at nearby Overton Elementary as police set up a barricade around the area in search of suspects.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but the search for the shooter or shooters was ongoing by Friday evening, police confirmed during a brief news conference at the scene.

A Lubbock ISD spokesperson said officials had secured the Overton campus, but that it was not on lockdown.

Police officials confirmed parents were directed to pick up their students at a secure area of the campus.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Lubbock Police Department along with Lubbock ISD Police will be clearing Overton Elementary prior to its release," LPD said in a statement during the incident. "There is still no Active Shooter situation."

Lubbock ISD police chief Ray Mendoza said school was letting out for the day about 3:25 p.m. when a Lubbock ISD police officer and school staff heard gunshots from a street about a block south of the campus, which is in the 2900 block of Louisville Avenue.

"Students were walking out to be met by their parents and soon as we heard the shots fired, the officer did the right thing and the administrators did the right thing, they had everybody go back into the building," he said.

Once the students were secured, LISD police officers were dispatched to the area to find the source of the shooting, Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, school administrators also called Lubbock police, said LPD Capt. Brady Cross.

"As you can imagine, that elicited a response from every officer in the area," he said. "The call was put out over all of our primary channels and officers responded."

Since the call came from Overton Elementary School, responding officers descended to the school and went in to determine there were no active shooters.

"A few minutes after arriving on scene and meeting with LISD Officers information was obtained that this may in fact be related to a drive-by shooting in the 3600 block of 31st," he said.

Officers went to the block and found evidence of a drive-by shooting, he said.

Lubbock police adjusted their response and focused on the scene of the shooting, which remains under investigation, he said.

"I hope that everyone understands that we responded the way we did out of the best interest of the kids," Cross said. "We bring everything we have. As we gather more information, we adjust our response and that's what happened today."

Mendoza said he was pleased with the response and cooperation by both departments.

"It worked just the way it's supposed to," he said.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Reported shooting prompts heightened security nearby Lubbock elementary