Why Turlock High, Julien Elementary schools were placed on lockdown Tuesday

Authorities on Tuesday morning locked down Turlock High and Julien Elementary schools after a resident reported a gunman in the area.

About 9:15 a.m., Turlock police officials received a report of a gunman in the 2400 block of Marlee Drive, a few blocks south of East Canal Drive in Turlock. The area is about a mile southeast of Turlock High, and a few blocks away from Julien Elementary.

The schools were closed just as a precaution while officers investigated the report, said Turlock police spokesman Sgt. Russ Holeman.

Officers arrived at the scene and learned a man who was interested in buying a house that was in foreclosure. The interested buyer was photographing the house with his cell phone.

Holeman said a resident inside the house became alarmed and went outside to confront the man taking photographs. He said the residents grabbed the cell phone from the interested buyer, who has a permit to conceal and carry a gun.

The man, who felt threatened, brandished his gun, according to Holeman. The resident then called police to report the gun.

Holeman said the officers informed the resident that taking away someone's cell phone can be considered a strong-arm robbery.

Both men did not want to proceed with any criminal charges. Holeman said the officers collected information for a report and released both men without any citations or arrests. No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.

Holeman said the school lockdown at both campuses was lifted about 10 minutes after the incident began.

This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Why Turlock High, Julien Elementary schools were placed on lockdown Tuesday."