Lake Villa schools lockdown over, but suspect remains at-large

(LAKE VILLA) The lockdown at three north suburban schools in Lake Villa has been lifted Thursday afternoon, though police did not capture a suspect from a domestic incident they were pursuing in the area.

Thompson Grade School at 515 Thompson Ln.; Palombi Middle School at 131 McKinley Ave.; and Martin Elementary at 24750 W. Dering Ln. were all placed on soft lockdown due to police activity in the area as of 9:45 a.m., according to a statement on Lake Villa District 41’s website.

The lockdown was lifted at all three schools as of 1 p.m., according to the statement.

Lake Villa Police were notified about 7:30 a.m. to “be on the look?out for a male subject that had been involved in a domestic-related incident in Round Lake Beach,” a statement from Lake Villa police said.

The suspect had fled the area and was “believed to be en route to his girlfriend’s home in the Prairie Trail subdivision” near Cedar Lake Road and Grand Avenue, police said.

He was initially spotted by police in the vicinity of Thompson School, so police asked that the campus be put on lockdown, the statement said. Officers were also stationed near the school.

Police later asked that the other schools be put on lockdown and a “reverse telephone” alert was sent to residents to keep their doors locked and report anything suspicious.

Lake County sheriff’s police and Illinois State Police joined the foot chase, and the suspect “was spotted twice by search officers,” but they lost contact just after 9 a.m. near Fairfield and Grand, police said.

The search was called off at 11:30 a.m., according to police. Police said the suspect is not in custody but they know who he is and are preparing an arrest warrant.

The suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s with a slender build and very short brown hair, wearing dark clothing and a black hoodie.

Anyone with information about the suspect should call Lake Villa police at (847) 356-?6106.