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UPDATE: Shelter-in-place lifted for Mission Hills following search for Lompoc shooting, pursuit suspect

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UPDATE (9:11 p.m.) - The search for a suspect linked to a shooting and pursuit in Lompoc and Vandenberg Village last week moved into the Mission Hills area Wednesday evening.

A shelter-in-place notification was sent out to people in the small community outside Lompoc Wednesday night, urging people to stay indoors, but was lifted around 9:10 p.m.

Police confirm to KSBY News they were looking for Nicholas Andrew Lopez, 27.

Officials say it was believed he ran into the bushes in the area Wednesday, prompting the search, but they were unable to find him and the shelter-in-place notification was lifted.

A separate shelter-in-place notification also linked to Lopez was sent out last Friday in parts of southern Vandenberg Village.

A Lompoc police officer on patrol reportedly spotted the suspect, who they said was a suspect in a non-injury shooting the day before, leaving the area in a white Ford Expedition.

He took off, running several red lights along H Street before being seen heading in to the southern portion of Vandenberg Village, police said.

The vehicle involved in the pursuit was found along the 500 block of Sunbeam Road a short time later.

A sheriff’s helicopter was requested to help search the area but they were unable to find him.

No other information was immediately available.
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ORIGINAL STORY (7:50 p.m.): A shelter-in-place notification was sent out to people in the Mission Hills area near Lompoc Wednesday night.

The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management said at about 7:45 p.m. the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office was on scene and one person was outstanding.

People were being told to stay indoors until further notice.

It was not immediately known what prompted authorities to respond to the area.

KSBY has reached out to the sheriff’s office for additional information but has not yet heard back.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.