All schools in the Lamont School District were canceled Thursday as sheriff's deputies went house to house search for a man who reportedly fired at officers overnight.
Deputies said they located the man hiding in a travel trailer in a yard on Bonita Road at about 9 a.m. A gun battle followed, and the man was killed, a spokesman said.
As of 9:30 a.m. streets were still closed as deputies wrapped up the scene, in the area bounded by East Panama Drive to Gail Marie Drive and Main Street to Myrtle Avenue. People who had been evacuated from their homes were allowed to return.
Classes were canceled at the Nueva Continuation High School in Lamont. Some students who live in Lamont attend Arvin High. Those students were excused for the day. If students from Lamont were driven to Arvin High, the district said they would attend classes as regularly scheduled. Arvin High was prepared to provide transportation home at the end of the day for Lamont students.
Deputies said the suspect fired a handgun at a deputy during a traffic stop overnight. The deputy did not return fire. It happened near Main Street and Bonita Road just after 10 p.m.
The man fled into the neighborhood and the search began. At about 11:45 p.m., deputies located the man and shots were exchanged, according to a sheriff’s spokesman. No deputies were injured. It was unknown if the suspect was wounded, but he was able to escape into the neighborhood. That's where deputies found him at 9 a.m., according to reports.
Channel 17 has two crews on the scene and will have full coverage on 17 News at Noon, 5 and 6 p.m.
