ELKHART — St. Vincent’s School was locked down for nearly 30 minutes Friday morning as police searched for two men who robbed a bar and four patrons inside the business.

The holdup at the Louie & Kelly Bar, 1045 S. Main St., about 7:40 a.m. was the second robbery in Elkhart Friday morning.

About 5 a.m., a robber struck the 7-Eleven, 429 N. Main St., the seventh time the store has been hit by thieves this year, police said.

The suspect in the 7-Eleven holdup was armed with a gun. Police said he was black, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and was wearing all black clothing.

Police fanned out on Main Street after the bar was struck by the robbery.

St. Vincent’s School nearby had just begun its morning prayer when police urged Principal Donna Quinn to lock down the preschool through sixth-grade school.

About 8:20 a.m. police returned, telling Quinn the threat had been lifted.

Two suspects in the bar holdup were described as black, wearing bright red sweatshirts, and one carrying a red backpack. Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department assisted with a K-9 dog, attempting unsuccessfully to track the suspects, who ran in different directions.

As officers searched the area, they requested that the school, 1118 S. Main St., be locked down.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to contact the detective bureau at the Elkhart Police Department, (574) 295-7076, or Crime Stoppers, (800) 342-STOP or (574) 288-STOP.