Deputies kill mountain lion roaming near elementary school in Big Bear

Sheriff's deputies on Thursday killed a mountain lion that was roaming near a school and homes on the north shore of Big Bear Lake.

The incident occurred after 9 a.m. Resident Ray Bowling said he noticed the big cat and called 911. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies arrived on scene and searched for the animal. A deputy eventually saw  the lion and opened fire.

Bowling said there had been a report of a mountain lion in the area who killed a dog and raccoon.

"It was a fairly dangerous situation," Bowling told The Times, noting that the lion was close to a residential area about an eighth of a mile from an elementary school.

"The mountain lion was going toward ... homes. And the deputy did shoot," said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller told the Press-Enterprise.

The school was temporarily placed on lockdown after the lion was noticed.

-- Shelby Grad