Police Search for Afternoon Shooters

Gunshots rang out near 81st Street and Mayfield Avenue in Burbank on Tuesday afternoon putting a junior high school on lockdown as police combed the streets looking for a possible discarded gun and suspects.

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Police sent out a five-part text over the Everbridge emergency system to residents regarding the shooting at 3:55 p.m:

"The Burbank Police Department responded to a shots fire called in the area of 81st Place and Mayfield at 2:22 pm this afternoon October 2nd. No one was injured but property damage did occur. Police officers are currently in the area searching for a possible discarded handgun with the use of metal detectors and K9 officers. Liberty Junior High School was placed on lockdown immediately and currently arrangements are being made to systematically release the students. Bus riders are being released at this time. Please avoid this area if possible. Thank you."

ABC-7 News reported an exchange of gunfire between some people on the sidewalk and a passing car.

Burbank Police Captain John Ford said no one was injured but bullets had struck some homes. The shooting occurred about an hour before Liberty Junior High School’s 3:19 p.m. dismissal.

The school, which is located several blocks away from where the shooting occurred, was put on lockdown as a precautionary measure. About 15 police and K9 officers searched the area.

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“Our fear was if there was a handgun because of the kids walking home from school,” Ford said.

Tuesday’s incident marks the third incident of gunfire since August. In the early morning hours of August 2, four people were shot outside of a home in what police said was a gang related shooting.

At a Sept. 24 town hall meeting at Reavis High School, police said the summer’s uptick in gang activity was due to rival warring gang factions.

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