A machete-wielding man who ran through a school yard in Melbourne's east had just tried to hold up a nearby liquor store.
A member of the public spotted the armed man running through the school grounds about 2.30pm, Park Orchards Primary School office manager Elissa Stewart said.
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Ms Stewart said students were in class at the time and the school went straight into lockdown for about half an hour.
"The students didn't know [what it was about], they just thought it was a drill," she said.
The man was fleeing after trying to hold up a liquor store in nearby Park Road.
Kevin Wang, who was out the back of Park Orchards Cellars, heard his father, store owner Xueqiang Wang screaming and went into the shopfront.
"I heard my dad screaming so I've come out and the criminal just ran," the 25-year-old said.
"If I wasn't in the store, I don't know what would have happened."
Mr Wang said the man, who appeared to be in his 30s, had come in and asked his father: "Where is the Johnny Walker?".
"Then he just grabbed my dad's left arm with one hand and with the other hand began to draw a knife from his bag," he said.
Mr Wang described the ordeal as "very scary".
Victoria Police spokesman, Senior Constable Alistair Parsons, said it's believed the man was wielding a machete.
The store had security cameras in the store that may have captured the incident.
Police are on the scene.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.