Dixon Police Say They Were Forced To Fire After Student Shot At Them Near High School

DIXON (CBS13) — Dixon Police say they were forced to fire on a student near a high school after he allegedly fired on a police officer.

Everything took place at Hall Memorial Park, which is right next to Dixon High School.

"I did see somebody laying down and I did see paramedics show up, went right over to whoever was on the ground," said Jennifer Beckley.

She thought she was making a quick stop at home, but she wasn't expecting to see a crime scene practically in her front yard.

"I called my sons' school immediately to make sure everybody over there was safe," she said.

Her two children go to an elementary school just a few blocks away.

On Wednesday, police responded to a call of a high school student carrying a gun.

"I got to school and they were telling me to get into a class and that's when everybody was telling me there was a guy with a gun," said student Isaac Ponce.

The campus went into lockdown after students told the principal another student was at the park with a gun.

When an officer arrived, police say the suspect shot at the car. The officer got out and returned fire. The suspect ran away, but was eventually captured with minor injuries. It's unknown if those injuries were from the officer's bullets.

As a mother of two, Beckley says it's inspiring to know students stepped forward to report what they saw.

"To know they weren't afraid to go and do what they needed to do to help protect everyone," she said.

The officer who shot at the student is on paid administrative leave, which is routine in incidents like this.

As for the student, he's a minor so police aren't releasing his name. It's not clear what his intentions were, if he was ever on the school campus that morning or had plans to go there at some point.