A gunshot was fired at during a robbery at a bank in Orange County Thursday, causing a nearby elementary school to be placed on lockdown.
An Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson told KTLA that deputies were dispatched to the Chase Bank located near the intersection of Portola and Bake parkways in Foothill Ranch just after noon Thursday.Â
They responded quickly to the scene, and as the suspect was fleeing, a single gunshot was fired, the spokesperson said. No one was believed to be struck.Â
It was not immediately known whether it was a deputy, the suspect or a witness that opened fire.Â
OCSD’s Lake Forest Police Services’ Facebook page put out an update at 12:40 p.m. advising residents to avoid the area “until further notice.”
A gunshot was fired at during a robbery at a bank in Orange County Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, causing a nearby elementary school to be placed on lockdown. (Sky5) Video from Sky5 shows deputies searching the hillside near the plaza where the bank is located with K9 units. Authorities were also seen speaking with people, who appeared to be bank employees. Video from Sky5 shows deputies searching the hillside near the plaza where the bank is located with K9 units. Authorities were also seen speaking with people, who appeared to be bank employees.
Foothill Ranch Elementary was placed on lockdown after the incident as a precautionary measure, police said. A nearby neighborhood was also placed on lockdown, KTLA 5’s Gil Leyvas said from Sky5.
Video from Sky5 shows deputies searching the hillside near the plaza where the bank is located with K9 units. Authorities were also seen speaking with people, who appeared to be bank employees.
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, there were no reports of a suspect in custody. Additionally, it is not known if the suspect was able to get away with any cash.
Jennifer Thang contributed to this report.
