SALYERSVILLE – Magoffin County Schools went into lockdown on Friday, March 8, as police searched for a suspect in a shooting case out of Wolfe County.
Sheriff Bill Meade contacted Superintendent Chris Meadows about a shooting incident in Wolfe County and, out of an abundance of caution, they decided to lock down the outside perimeters of each of the Magoffin County schools.
Students and staff were free to move around in the buildings, but no visitors were allowed and no one could leave for several hours, eventually releasing at the usual time, but with heavy police presence and extra precautions taken.
After an 18-hour manhunt, the suspect, Pedro Torices, was taken into custody later that same night in Wolfe County and charged with assault (first and fourth degrees) and unlawful imprisonment (second degree). He was taken to the Three Forks Regional Jail.
Magoffin County school officials did reiterate that Torices was never seen in Magoffin County and none of the schools were ever threatened, but the lockdown was taken out of an abundance of caution.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
