CAMPAIGN – An incident that sparked a second light lockdown in as many days at a nearby elementary school and a high-speed police chase ended with three suspects arrested and three illegally possessed weapons confiscated.

Around 3:05 p.m. Thursday, Champaign police stopped a vehicle in the 2000 block of North Market Street after observing an armed person entering.

The vehicle sped off after being stopped, authorities said, prompting police to pursue it until it stopped in the 1000 block of North Sixth Street for a reported mechanical failure.

All four occupants then exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Three were taken into custody after several local law enforcement agencies joined Champaign police in the search. Arrested were William Laws, 25, and Trevoy Fonville, 28, both of Champaign, and Anthony Wilkins, 29, of Rantoul.

Assisting CPD in the investigation were Urbana and University of Illinois police and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

Because of the proximity to the incident, Booker T. Washington STEM Academy was placed on lockdown, the second day in a row that nearby police activity prompted Unit 4 schools to initiate a lockdown.

Thursday’s light lockdown ended at 3:55 p.m., but “the dismissal was delayed pending approval from CPD,” district spokeswoman Stacey Moore said.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Champaign police, who continued to canvass the surrounding area for witnesses and video footage.

Any resident or business with exterior surveillance camera systems is urged to notify police at 217-351-4545.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.