Alexander Sinclair, an off-duty cop with the Cleveland Division of Police, has been arrested following a shooting in the parking lot of Riverview Elementary School in Painesville on Thursday morning.
Sinclair reportedly fired the shot at a car following a domestic dispute that spilled into the school’s premises. A resource officer assigned the school heard the gunshot and quickly took action, arresting Sinclair.
He has been booked into the Lake County jail pending arraignment. The incident triggered a lockdown of the school.
Around 9. a.m. on on Thursday, October 31, 2024, a shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Riverview Elementary school. Police investigations indicate that a domestic dispute that began off-campus carried over onto the school parking lot.
The dispute involved two vehicles that appeared to have collided. Following the collision, one person emerged from his vehicle, approached the passenger side of the other vehicle and fired one shot through the windshield into the car.
Nobody was hurt in the shooting and the Deputy assigned to Riverview as a resource officer heard the commotion, approached and managed to arrest the suspect following a brief struggle.
The suspect was then identified as Alexander Sinclair, a police officer.
“The suspect in this incident has been identified as Alexander Sinclair,”the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Mr. Sinclair has been booked into the Lake County Jail on charges related to this incident and is pending arraignment. This incident remains under investigation.”
Sinclair, the victims in the other vehicle, and the school resource officer all sustained minor injuries.
Riverside Local Schools in Painesville Township released a statement addressing the incident but emphasizing no one – student or staff – was in any danger during the incident.
“We want to confirm that there was no threat made toward staff or students at any time. All safety protocols were implemented and followed,” the statement began. “Local law enforcement agencies remained on scene throughout the morning to assist with classroom and building safety checks, directing traffic and helping student check-out. In addition, grief counselors from Signature Health were called to the school and were available for any students or staff who wanted to speak with someone.”
The school went on to thank Deputy Ward, the Lake County Deputy assigned as their resource officer.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to our School Safety Officer Deputy Ward, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as well as all of the surrounding area police and fire departments and Signature Health for their prompt and rapid response to this matter.”