KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. — An arrest has been made after reported gunfire near an eastern Kanawha County elementary school forced a lockdown.

James Wilson, 50, of Miami, West Virginia, has been arrested after he was squirrel hunting on a hill near Sharon Dawes Elementary School on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County.

Maintenance workers reported hearing gunfire near the school at around 7:45 Friday morning, and according to the complaint, approximately 17 shotgun pellets were found on the roof.

Wilson was hunting for squirrels with a 12-gauge Remington 870 and allegedly did not have an active hunting license. Wilson was one of multiple hunters in the area questioned by authorities during the time of the investigation.

Wilson was arrested for hunting without a license, illegal possession of wildlife and negligent shooting.

Students at Sharon Dawes Elementary School were released early due to the incident. Wilson was taken to the South Central Regional Jail.

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