Nystrom Elementary temporarily locked down after suspect fleeing police enters campus

Nystrom Elementary was temporarily placed on lockdown today after a suspect fleeing police entered the campus, police said.

Richmond police responded to the 900 block of Virginia Avenue on a report of a family disturbance involving Raul Lopez, who has multiple felony warrants for his arrest. Lopez had fled before officers’ arrival, but while searching for him officers saw Lopez running through the playground area of the Nystrom Elementary campus and then entering the school, police said.

“The school was quickly notified and placed on lockdown,” police said in a Facebook post. “Officers surrounded the school and began a search for Lopez.”

Lopez was found by officers hiding in a second floor bathroom. He was arrested and no students were hurt, according to police, who called the incident “an example of the great training implemented by the Richmond Police Department’s SRO’s at Nystrom Elementary, locking the school down quickly ensuring the safety of all the students and staff.”