5 schools on lockdown while murder suspect eludes police in San Diego

Five schools in San Diego were under lockdown and one school was evacuated on Tuesday while a murder suspect was on the loose. The school lockdown went into effect around 1 p.m. after the murder suspect, 22-year-old Matthew Rowley, had fled from police officers and disappeared into the nearby neighborhood, reports San Diego’s 10News on Jan. 29, 2013.

The five San Diego schools in Tierrasanta that were on lockdown included De Portola Middle School, Serra High School, Kumeyaay Elementary School, Tierrasanta Elementary School, and Vista Grande Elementary School. The students from Kumeyaay Elementary School were evacuated and bused to a nearby community high school because Matthew Rowley had disappeared near the elementary school.

The murder suspect, Matthew Rowley of Corona, was believed to be armed. In addition to the lockdown of the schools, several streets were closed down while police officers on foot combed the Tierrasanta area and a helicopter searched from the air.

Matthew Rowley managed to elude the police officers and helicopter for hours until he was arrested shortly before 6 p.m. at a home in the area.

“It was not immediately clear if Rowley, who surrendered peacefully, was acquainted with someone who lives at the residence, or if he might have forced entry.”

According to Corona Police Sgt. Kim Velasco, the 22-year-old murder suspect was wanted in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in Corona. Around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2013, police officers responded to reports of gunfire and found 20-year-old Daniel Stordahl of Corona mortally wounded from multiple bullet wounds in a residential area on Border Avenue.

While the motive for the murder of Daniel Stordahl is still unknown, police have arrested 22-year-old Patrick Kohler from Riverside who allegedly drove the murder suspect Matthew Rowley from the scene. Until Tuesday, no information was available in regard to where Matthew Rowley might be hiding.

“A law enforcement task force based in Anaheim aided Corona police in the case and gathered information indicating that Rowley was hiding out in San Diego.”

When Matthew Rowley was seen near a park just south of state Route 52 on Tuesday afternoon, he immediately ran and successfully eluded the police chase.

During the police chase, the five schools were under lockdown from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. as a precautionary measure according to Jack Brandais of the San Diego Unified School District Communications Department.

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Tina Burgess has lived in several countries in the world. Most of her family and friends still live in Germany and other countries including Italy, Mexico, India, the Philippines, Australia, and China. She studied for several years at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and San Diego State...

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