2 Pittsburgh schools lock down while police chase suspect's vehicle, wanted man escapes on foot

Two Pittsburgh schools went on lockdown Thursday afternoon while a police chase ended in a crash in East Liberty, officials said.

School district police ordered the security measure as a precaution when they learned that officers were pursuing a man wanted by Allegheny County detectives traveling in a vehicle nearby, Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said.

The schools affected were Obama Academy, which enrolls students in sixth to 12th grades on Highland Avenue in East Liberty, and Dilworth Traditional Academy, which enrolls students in preschool through fifth grade on Stanton Avenue in Larimer.

Shortly before 1 p.m., county detectives alerted Pittsburgh police that a wanted man could be in the bureau’s Zone 5, which stretches from Bloomfield to the East Hills.

Pittsburgh officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle and followed it until it crashed at Hays Street and North Euclid Avenue in East Liberty, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.

No one was reported seriously injured.

Two police vehicles were damaged during the pursuit, Pugh said.

The suspect, who has not yet been identified, took off running. He was not caught.

Officials did not provide a suspect description.

The school lockdowns lasted less than a half-hour and students went home as usual, Pugh said.

No further information was immediately available about the possible suspect or why he was wanted by county detectives.

County police, who are leading the investigation, could not immediately be reached for comment.