SANTA CLARITA, CA — A student gunman opened fire at a southern California high school Thursday morning, leaving two dead and several others injured, officials said.
According to authorities, the male suspect, who is a student at the school, opened fire in the quad at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita around 7:38 a.m. before classes started. Authorities were on scene by 7:40 a.m. after receiving several 911 calls about the shooting.
The suspected gunman shot and killed two students, a 16-year-old female and a 14-year-old male, and injured two others before shooting himself in the head, police said. He is currently in custody and being treated at a local hospital, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. Officials say he is in grave condition.
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Video obtained at the scene showed the suspect taking a .45-caliber pistol from a backpack before shooting the five other students and then himself, said Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The other victims include two females, ages 14 and 15, and another 14-year-old male, police said. They were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds.
Police are investigating the alleged shooter's home, which is near the school, authorities said at a press conference.
Other schools in the district were placed on lockdown amid the shooting.
Update regarding the shooting at #SaugusHigh, suspect is in custody and being treated at a local hospital.
— Alex Villanueva (@LACoSheriff) November 14, 2019
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
