Lockdown lifted at Hopewell High School after nearby break-in

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Huntersville police are searching for two young men they said broke into a house and caused a local school to go on lock-down.

The break-in happened around 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Latta Springs subdivision off Beatties Ford Road.

Barrett Hill was home with his wife at the time of the break-in.

"We heard noises downstairs. They kicked the back door in," Hill said. He said when he looked downstairs, he saw three young black men inside his home turning around to leave the house.

However, soon after, they did something that shocked Hill.

"I was on the phone with 911 and they actually came back," he said. "I was shaken up, yes, but surprised more than anything."

The men didn't get away with anything because a Huntersville police officer arrived and the three men started running towards the woods nearby. The officer caught one of them, a juvenile who is now in custody.

Nearby Hopewell High School was put on lockdown. Officers spent the next few hours searching by land and air for the other two.

Neighbors in this quiet neighborhood quickly knew something was wrong. " I was mowing the lawn this morning and saw helicopters flying around," said Chris Jackson-Jordan.

"I'm very shocked because we generally, I've never heard of any problems here yet since we've been here," said John Daum, who lives across the street in Tanners Creek.

Around 11:40 a.m. the lockdown was lifted and police left the scene, saying they didn't believe the two men were still in this area. They said a witness told them they had spotted one of the men far from the neighborhood and their K-9s were not picking up anything.

As of Monday night, police said they are still searching for the two men.

WSOC