An armed robber in a "Joker" mask shot an El Cajon motel clerk before running into the neighborhood, prompting a temporary high school lockdown Tuesday afternoon, according to El Cajon police.
A suspect reportedly held up the Quality Inn and Suites in the 1200 block of El Cajon Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m.
Armed with a shotgun, police say the suspect demanded money from the clerk. The 31-year-old man asked the gunman not to shoot and tried to run into the back office.
But before he could escape, the suspect fired one round, hitting the victim in the lower back, according to officials. The suspect then took off empty-handed on foot. He was last seen heading west through the parking lot.
Grossmont High School was placed on lockdown as a precaution as the hunt continued. La Mesa police and sheriff's deputies went room to room to make sure students were safe. The school district said law enforcement lifted the lockdown shortly after 3:00 p.m. and students were released from classrooms.
Officers continued searching canyons and businesses in the area. The suspect, however, was not found.
He is described as a white man, standing 6-foot-2 with a thin build. He was wearing a "Joker" mask and a gray hooded sweatshirt at the time of the shooting.
Local
The motel clerk was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital for the non-life threatening injury, and he is expected to be released this evening.
Quality Inn guest Nickolas Hausam said the gunman was staying the room next to theirs with another man, woman and a pit bull.
"They did look a bit suspect. They were acting a little bit funny. They stood out," said Hausam.
He and Chelsea Friedman were in their room they heard the gunshot.
"We heard this loud bang, and our friend said it was a dumpster being dropped off, and we were like, that was pretty loud," Hausam told NBC 7.
They and other guests said they couldn't believe the senseless shooting.
If you know anything about a possible suspect, call the El Cajon Police Department at 619-579-3311.
