St. Joseph school locked down during search for suspects in home invasions

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - A school in St. Joseph was locked down while police searched for suspects in a string of overnight home invasions.

Authorities requested a lockdown of St. James School, a Catholic school at 120 Michigan Ave.

The principal at St. James told 41 Action News they were locked down for about a half hour Wednesday during morning church services, but police later said they believed the suspects had left the area.

Doors to the school remained locked as a precaution and students will not be going outside for recess, the principal said.

"Everybody is inside and everybody is safe," she said.

Police tell KQ2 at least three homes were broken into. One of the homeowners told the St. Joseph television station he pulled a shotgun on the intruder.

There were no reports of any injuries in the home invasions.

If you know anything about the crimes, you are urged to call the St. Joseph  TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.