UPDATES BELOW
A mass shooting has taken place at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California has left two teens dead and at least four injured.
UPDATE: 2:10pm
The alleged shooter is 16-year-old Saugus High School student Nathaniel Berhow (photo above). Police have reportedly taken him into custody. He was admitted into a local hospital for treatment.
At approximately 7:30 AM PST, the shooter opened fire with a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol in the high school’s quad. Reports say that he shot five students before turning the gun on himself at his head. A school surveillance camera captured the shooting as it occurred. While reports are saying the gunman is still alive and at a local area hospital, NBC News is stating he is in “grave” condition. Today is also his birthday.
UPDATE: 2:34pm
According to Fox News, a 16-year-old girl and two 14-year-old boys are dead. The remaining victims consist of a 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old boy.
When the gun was recovered, it reportedly had no more bullets in it.
Police did not at first realize Berhow was one of those hospitalized after the shooting took place. They initially believed he immediately fled the scene.
UPDATES AND MORE PHOTOS CONTINUE IN BOLD, BELOW
Parademics arrived shortly after shooting began, placing injured on stretchers and transporting them to nearby hospitals.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita Valley tweeted that it received four victims, three males and one female. The female patient passed away at around 10:00 AM PST.
UPDATE: 11:41am
According to local station KTLA, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has confirmed six patients total were transported to local hospitals. They report two male students are in critical condition at Henry Mayo Hospital, while a fourth patient was hospitalized in good condition. Two female gunshot victims were transported to Holy Cross Providence Hospital and are in good to fair condition.
The gunman opened fire at around 7:45 AM PST. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect was an Asian male seen wearing black clothing at the high school.
All schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District went on lockdown at around 8:30 AM PST, including nearby elementary schools.
Scared for their safety, many students at the high school hid in closets hoping to go undetected by the shooter. Others saw the opportunity to flee and ran through the school’s gates.
After authorities determined the area to be safe, students evacuated the high school with hands held over their heads to a nearby park. Central Park served as a reunification area for students and parents.
According to ABC7, Undersheriff Tim Murakami tweeted an apology to parents, saying investigators need to interview “every student at Saugus HS” before they can be released.
Police are conducting a social media “scrub,” examining everything the suspect has messaged or posted that may relate to the incident, according to CBS.
Authorities searched the gunman’s house and also interviewed his mother and girlfriend. Now that Berhow’s name has been revealed, the public is posting his image on social media.
Nathaniel Berhow with family, Father, who was an avid hunter, is deceased. pic.twitter.com/K9TS7BCEIV
— zombiearm (@zombiearm) November 14, 2019Neighbors of Berhow’s family were shocked to learn he was the gunman. “He was in scouting, he was in track and a very kind, sweet boy,” one of them told Los Angeles Times. “I don’t understand the psychology.”
“He was a quiet kid and I didn’t see this coming,” another neighbor said.
An online obituary included Berhow’s father, Mark, who died of a heart attack in December 2017. According to the Los Angeles Times, Berhow’s father was a hunter and owned several weapons.
DEVELOPING STORY. More updates to come.
Watch the CBS news live stream to stay updated on this story.
Saugus High School Shooter – Sources
The New York Times
The Los Angeles Times
CNN
KTLA
ABC7
Fox News