Police said they believe Wayne Adam Shaw, 18, and Jose Luis Bautista-Osorio, 26, both of Gainesville, had targeted the house in the 2000 block of Leland Road in South Hall for a gang-related burglary.

The child, home alone sick at the time, hid in a closet when they arrived at about 9 a.m. and called 911, Maj. Jeff Strickland said.

As Hall County sheriff’s deputies arrived, the two men ran from the house, with deputies able to catch Shaw, Strickland said.

The ensuing chase for Bautista-Osorio, 26, lasted nearly three hours and resulted in the lockdown of Chicopee Woods Elementary, South Hall Middle and Johnson High schools.

"We moved additional officers to the schools, inside and outside, while the search was being conducted," Strickland said.

The sheriff’s office used trained dogs from its department as well as Gainesville police to track the suspect.

"By the time he left the residence, he ran through some yards, heavily wooded areas until he crossed Calvary Church Road, and then we believe he traveled through the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve near Johnson High School," Strickland said.

"From there, he was just running through yards and across some streets," he added.

The man was caught and arrested before noon in the Cedar Ridge apartment complex off Winder Highway, near Hollywood Video.

The lockdown was lifted after his capture.

Bautista-Osorio was charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. He is an illegal immigrant who had been deported in September after he was convicted of shoplifting and marijuana possession, Strickland said.

Shaw was charged with one count of burglary.

Strickland said a preliminary investigation shows that the suspects are members of the gang SUR-13.

The sheriff’s office also is looking into some kind of recognition for the boy’s heroic act, he said.

"We are very fortunate that the child knew what to do and ... took action like that," Strickland said. "If he hadn’t taken the action he did, this could have had very tragic results."