Santa Clarita school shooting: Two students dead after gunman opens fire in California
Two teenagers are dead after a 16-year-old boy opened fire at a high school in California, leading to a high-intensity manhunt through the suburban streets of Santa Clarita, a community in shock after early-morning violence has rocked the neighbourhood.
The suspect entered the Saugus High School campus just after 7:30 am, then quickly removed a 45 calibre semi-automatic pistol from his book bag and fired at a group of students, striking five before turning the gun on himself. He's in "grave condition" at an area hospital after surviving a gunshot wound to the head.
Police say today is his birthday.
Los Angeles FBI Agent Paul Delacourt said authorities "have no indication of any motive or ideology".
A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl arrived at a local hospital in critical condition but later died.
Henry Mayo Hospital officials say another student is in "good" condition at that hospital. Two other students are listed with critical injuries at another area hospital.
Another victim who was not wounded by gunfire was sent to another hospital with noncritical injuries.
All the victims are students.
Police and hospital officials have not revealed the hospital where the suspect remains in custody.
"In the days ahead, in the years ahead, the main thing we need to do is wrap our arms around one another", said Santa Clarita Sheriff's Office Capt Robert Lewis. "We need to say, 'No more.' ... This is a tragic event that happens too frequently."
After the suspect opened fire, dozens of students escaped campus, or ran into classrooms where to hide in closets, where they frantically texted friends and family while waiting for police to clear the area.
Police said there were no more bullets left in the suspect's gun after it was recovered. Abandoned papers, binders and school bags were scattered throughout the school's quad where the shooting took place.
The shooting was captured on school surveillance footage.
Santa Clarita Sheriff Alex Villaneuva said authorities will "pick apart" the footage
"I hate to have Saugus be added to the names of Columbine, Parkland, Sandy Hook, but it’s a reality that affects us all across the nation," Mr Villanueva said.
Parents waited for their children at a designated reunion area at a nearby park, where hundreds of students made emotional reunions with their families.
Aerial news footage showed lines of students being escorted from the school by armed sheriff's deputies, while several people were being removed from campus on gurneys. At one point, emergency services could be seen giving CPR to a victim on the lawn outside the school.
Following a search, a SWAT team captured the suspect — described as an Asian male wearing blue jeans, a black hat and black shirt — and sent him to a local hospital, where he is being treated while in custody, according to police.
Residents of nearby homes were told to lock their doors and stay alert for the suspect.
Armed officers were seen shutting off roads and surrounding homes in their search for the suspect.
At one point, police closed down a highway and lined up close to a tree, after reports that the suspect may have been hidden in undergrowth.
But they were quickly stood down and moved on to surrounding neighbourhoods where houses were methodically surrounded.
Deputy Grace Medrano said the school along with three neighbouring elementary schools were on lockdown.
A 10th grader at the school and told KTLA5: "There was a group of girls running, they told me that someone had a gun on campus. I looked and saw 20 kids hopping over the gate running."
Emergency services could be seen giving CPR to one of the victims on the school's lawn.
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