Three Paulding County schools on lockdown Thursday morning after a police chase ended near the campuses have been given the all-clear.

According to Paulding sheriff's spokesman Ashley Henson, South Paulding High and Dugan Elementary, which share a campus on Winn Road, were placed on lockdown as a precaution while deputies searched for suspects that fled on foot following a vehicle chase.

Just before 9:30 a.m., the Paulding County School District announced on its Facebook page that a third school, Austin Middle, had been added to the list.

The district lifted the lockdowns just before 9:45 a.m., a school system spokesman told Channel 2 Action News.

Villa Rica police began chasing four suspects in a pickup truck, and that chase wound its way into Paulding County before ending when the truck crashed through a fence and into woods in a neighborhood near the schools.

Villa Rica police Chief Michael Mansour told Channel 2 Action News that at least one of  the suspects fired a rifle at pursuing officers during the chase.

After wrecking the truck, the suspects fled on foot, but police searched the area and eventually captured all four suspects.

Channel 2 reported that police recovered body armor, an assault rifle and a shotgun.

Please return to ajc.com for updates.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC