A shooting erupted at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, just before classes began Thursday morning leaving a 16-year-old student dead and at least five others injured.
The suspected gunman, who is described in varying reports as 15 or 16 years old, is an Asian male Saugus student who donned black clothing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said at a Nov. 14 news conference that the suspect removed a handgun from his bookbag and shot others before turning the weapon on himself and firing it against his head.
The incident occurred during what is known as “zero period” at 7:38 a.m., ABC News reported. Units arrived on the scene two minutes later, where a total of six victims were seen in the quad.
The suspect is among those who were injured. Officials said the gunman is in custody and was transported to the hospital in “grave condition.” Victims were transported to various local hospitals, including Henry Mayo Hospital. It tweeted it has four patients — three male and one female. Two males and the female student are in critical condition, while one male is in good condition.
By press time, a 14-year-old male student had died, AJ+ reported.
“My son was in the quad where it happened and as soon as he saw the shooting he ran, and we have a meeting space and he ran and I met him there,” Brian Skiba, a parent of a student at the school, told Time magazine.
At the time of the shooting, Saugus and schools in the surrounding area of the relatively wealthy Los Angeles County city were placed on lockdown, according to the publication.
The FBI conducted a social media search of the suspect and said there is “no indication of any motivation or ideology,” a Fox 11 reporter tweeted.
In response to the shooting, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “I am closely monitoring the incident at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita this morning, and my Administration is working in close coordination with local law enforcement.”
He added he and his wife Jennifer “extend our thoughts to the parents, families and friends of the students and faculty, and the Santa Clarita community.”
Newsom also tweeted he is “grateful for the first responders in Santa Clarita today. We simply should not have to fear for our kids’ lives when we drop them off at school.”
Then he added there’s a need for what he called “commonsense gun reform.”
Grief counselors will be on hand tonight for the community.
