Students were kept off school playgrounds and some commuters changed their everyday routes as police searched for a suspect, Monday. The suspect is responsible for 20 random shootings that have damaged mostly vehicles on busy roads across four Michigan counties.
Since last Tuesday, the shootings have occurred in Oakland, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
Law officials told the Associated Press that although no one has been hurt and no shootings have taken place since Thursday, they stretched their investigation to four counties.
"We want all our students and families to feel safe. These are precautionary measures," school spokeswoman Judy Evola told the Associated Press.
According to the police, the gunman appears to be a man in his 30s and released a drawing of a possible suspect with close-cropped hair and stubble on his cheeks and chin.
One of the shootings which the suspect is allegedly responsible for involved cars near Interstate 96, when a man was taking out his garbage, and another, when a woman reported the rear window of her car shattered.
The Associated Press confirmed that 10 of the 20 shootings have occurred in Wixom, which is 35 miles northwest of Detroit.
Law officials felt it was necessary to lock the doors of five schools in the Walled Lake district. They are not sure how long this lockdown will last nor whether schools are a target.
"You can never be too careful, obviously," Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said.
"Until this guy or suspects are found, people need to be aware of their surroundings. There is nothing wrong with taking precautions. We're not going to tell people they're overreacting."
