El Cerrito High Goes On Lockdown Amid Home-Invasion Robbery Probe

EL CERRITO, CA — A home-invasion robbery investigation earlier this week triggered the closure of El Cerrito High School for part of the day and a frantic freeway pursuit, police said.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the robbery and an additional suspect is at large, El Cerrito police said.

Both suspects were identified by police as 28-year-old Oakland men. One of them suffered injuries that required hospitalization, police said.

One of the suspects was arrested on a parole violation and on suspicion of felony evasion and conspiracy charges, and booked into Contra Costa County jail, police said.

This other suspect was wanted for a Post Community Supervised Release violation, police said.

Officers at around 9:05 a.m. Wednesday responded to the 900 block of King Drive on the report of a home-invasion robbery that had just occurred, police said.

One of the suspect’s fired a round at the victim during the robbery, police said.

All three suspects fled after the victim was able to access a weapon to defend himself with, police said.

Responding officers pursued a vehicle speeding away from the scene, police said.

The driver was involved in two hit-and-run collisions that caused property damage, police said.

The pursuit ended on Interstate 80 near Central Avenue when the driver abandoned the vehicle, police said.

The driver was arrested after trying to run across the freeway through heavy traffic, police said.

He was later determined to be on parole with an ankle monitor, according to police.

The two other suspects fled through the neighborhood shedding clothing, climbing fences, and running through backyards, police said.

A search of the area was conducted with K9 units from the Richmond and San Pablo Police Departments and CHP aircraft.

During the search, El Cerrito High School was placed on lockdown as a safety precaution, police said.

Two firearms were recovered on the route where the suspects fled, police said.