Even though Santa Clarita is the third-largest city in LA county, it is still a very close-knit community. First responders were not only responding to students, during this incident. In some cases, they were responding to immediate family. Learn more about the elements that complicated the operational response in this analysis by EMS1 columnist Rob Lawrence.
Associated Press
UPDATE 12:02 p.m. PST: Authorities say a second victim of a Los Angeles area high school shooting has died.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says a 14-year-old boy died at a hospital. Earlier, a 16-year-old girl died from the shooting at Saugus High School in the city of Santa Clarita.
Authorities say a student gunman shot five students and then himself around 7:30 a.m. in a school quad. His .45-caliber handgun was found with no bullets remaining when it was recovered.
The three surviving victims remain hospitalized. The shooter is in grave condition.
UPDATE 10:20 a.m. PST: A hospital says one student has died following a shooting at a high school outside Los Angeles.
In a tweet, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital says a girl died and two boys are in critical condition, while another boy is in good condition.
UPDATE 9:40 a.m. PST: Los Angeles County sheriff says suspect is in custody.
https://twitter.com/LACoSheriff/status/1195033793385488384
ORIGINAL AP STORY:
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — At least three people were injured Thursday during a shooting at a Southern California high school and a search was underway for the gunman, authorities said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies responded to Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
The department said a male suspect in black clothing was seen at the location.
“If you live in neighborhoods anywhere near Saugus High, PLEASE LOCK DOORS and stay inside. If you see suspect, male dark clothing, in backyards, etc. CALL 911,” the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station tweeted.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said President Donald Trump was monitoring the reports and advised those nearby to follow the advice of law enforcement and first responders.
There were three confirmed patients with injuries, and it was not immediately clear if they were gunshot wounds or other types of injuries, fire spokesman Christopher Thomas said.
Initial reports of at least six injured were likely due to duplicate reports, he said.
Saugus High School and other schools in the area were locked down.
Television images showed deputies swarming the school and several people being moved on gurneys.
Lines of students were escorted from the school by armed deputies.
One patient was flown to a hospital and two others were transported by ambulance, Thomas said.