Wikipedia The Saugus High School campus.
Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, became the scene of a school shooting on the morning of November 14 leaving at least two people dead. Six people, including the gunman, were shot.
The shooting occurred on the suspect’s birthday. The suspect has been named as Nathaniel Berhow.
The school is located 40 miles north of Los Angeles at 21900 Centurion Way in Santa Clarita. Officers were first called to the scene around 7:45 a.m. local time. CNN reports that authorities were called to the school after an off-duty sheriff’s deputy thought he heard gunshots coming from the school. The deputy had been dropping his child off at school.
In total, six paramedic squads, six ambulances and an air unit were dispatched to the school.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Officials Have Said That the Suspect Is Still Alive
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that a male Asian suspect was seen at the location. Multiple reports had said that the gunman had died following a self-inflicted gunshot wound on campus. Officials said at a press conference that surveillance video from the school shows the suspect taking out a handgun from his backpack, shooting at five students and then shooting himself in the head.
Former Congresswoman Katie Hill, who graduated from Saugus High School in 2004 and represented the district where the shooting took place, tweeted that the suspect is not deceased but “is in custody” following those reports. It was later confirmed by the sheriff’s office that the suspect was still alive and being treated in a local hospital.
The sheriff’s office has told those who live in the vicinity of the school to look at all doors and stay inside until further notice. Police believe that there is only one suspect.
California Senator and 2020 presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has said that her office is monitoring the reports of the shooting. Harris later tweeted, “Heartbroken and praying for Santa Clarita. I’m incredibly grateful to the first responders who are on the scene of this active situation. If you are near the area, please listen to law enforcement. Our children and communities are being terrorized. We can’t accept this.”
2. Sheriff’s Deputies Are on Scene at the Suspect’s Home
Twitter/LA County SheriffSheriff’s deputies on scene at the school.
Local television helicopter footage showed Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a home close to the school. Numerous reports have said that the home is the home of the suspect. CBS Los Angeles reports that the suspect was last seen running westward, away from Saugus High School, and toward Highlands Elementary School.
Officials have said that they do not believe that there is a second suspect.
3. Five Students Were Shot by the Gunman
Facebook/Saugus High SchoolSaugus High School sports teams are known as the Centurions.
The gunman shot five students at the school, killing two, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Two other girls and a boy were hospitalized.
NBC LA reporter Adrian Arambulo tweeted that one victim was found in a choir room while others were found in a nurse’s office.
4. A Reunification Area Has Been Set Up for Parents
Parents of students are being asked by officials to go to nearby Central Park to meet their children. The announcement advises that traffic delays should be expected.
The sheriff’s department’s Santa Clarita branch has said that nearby elementary schools have been placed on lockdown as a result of the shooting. That lockdown was lifted around two hours after the shooting was first reported.
The mother of one student told NBC Los Angeles, “He just heard the gunshots and he’s scared … he’s trying to be brave.” Another parent told Fox News’ Jeff Paul, “I can’t even comprehend it. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Hannah de Caussin told CNN that she was driving her daughter to school when her daughter got text messages from friends regarding the shooting. Those friends said that they heard five shots coming from the main quad on the campus.
5. There Are Nearly 2,500 Students Enrolled at the School
According to the school’s website, there are no events scheduled today on campus. There are close to 2,500 students enrolled at the school, which is in the William S. Hart Union High School District. The school’s Wikipedia page says that the campus has been used for filming for multiple TV shows and movies. That page also says that the school boasts numerous actors and celebrities among its alumni.
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