Civic leaders in Williams Lake blame a turf war between rival street gangs for gunfire Monday, which sparked a lockdown and kept thousands of kids home from school.

Students are expected to return to class as schools re-open Tuesday morning.

"Obviously, the situation was dangerous enough we didn't want kids on sidewalks," said School District 27 Superintendent Mark Thiessen, as a helicopter hovered overhead and armed officers took to the streets.

On Monday, he advised schools to shut down and told residents to stay inside.Thiessen himself stayed home, working from his kitchen telephone to close the city's schools and alert parents.

"Kids practice lockdowns at school," he said. "If you're not sure, ask your kids. Close your blinds. Lock your doors."

Daycares and the satellite campus of Thompson Rivers University were also closed and city buses cancelled for several hours until RCMP announced they had seized a gun and had a suspect in custody.

Schools remain closed all day.

RCMP Corporal Dave Tyreman said police "believe it was a targeted incident because the house [that shots were fired at] was previously occupied by an alleged gang member.

"I'm not sure if it's one of those cases of mistaken identity," Tyreman said.

Dealer was at targeted house: councillor

Police wouldn't identify the home's previous occupant. But city councillor Scott Nelson said Indi Ron Johnny used to stay at the house.

Johnny, who was convicted of drug dealing and uttering threats, was shot dead in March in a killing RCMP called "targeted and "gang related".

"People are obviously quite scared," said Nelson. "It's a turf war between these two gangs and our community."

"They've gone from the fisticuffs to carrying guns.

"Now they're shooting each other, they're killing each other, " said Nelson.

Staff Sgt. Lindsay Houghton speaks for BC's anti-gang police agency, the Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit.

Houghton wasn't briefed on Monday's incident. But he said Williams Lake has "two low level gangs," the Chilcotin Rebel Warriors and the 712.

"These groups have been going at each other for awhile now."

Williams Lake is 240 km south of Prince George, B.C. (Google Maps)

Minister blames local rivalries

BC's Public Safety Minister Mike Morris told Canadian Press the problem is an escalation of "local rivalries" not gang activity. Morris didn't return CBC's request for comment.

Local trucker Jess Bennett said he's scared for his children. "Awhile back now, my brother had bullets going past his daughter's bedroom window when he was putting her to bed."

Nelson, the city councilor, said Williams Lake needs immediate help on the ground to get gang members off the streets.

"It's a real battle and they're trying to knock each other off," said Nelson. "Our concern is they're going to kill someone who's an innocent bystander."

RCMP say the home hit by gunshots Monday was occupied by an innocent family with no criminal connections.

No one was injured.

With files from Andrew Kurjata, Doug Herbert, Shelley Joyce, Lindsay Sample, and Michelle Elliott, Canadian Press.