Santa Clarita shooting: What we know about the Saugus High School suspected gunman, victims

USATODAY A Southern California high school will remain closed Friday as authorities continue their investigation after a 16-year-old student fatally shot two classmates and wounded three others.

The suspect shot himself in the head with his last bullet during the 16-second attack on Thursday morning, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and was in “grave” condition, according to law enforcement officials.

Students who recently filmed an active shooting training video said they couldn’t believe violence struck at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, home to Six Flags Magic Mountain and 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The incident was the 30th shooting attack at a school this year, according to the gun safety group Everytown.

Here’s what we know so far:

What happened at Saugus High School?

A gunman pulled a weapon out of his backpack around 7:30 a.m. local time and opened fire at the school, which has a student population of about 2,500 in grades 9-12.

He shot five students in the quad area with a 45-caliber semi-automatic handgun before shooting himself, said Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.

Saugus and all other schools in the district went on lockdown as police swarmed the area. Once students were allowed to reunite with their parents, families were seen embracing and crying.

Who is the suspect?

Officials described the suspect as an Asian male student at the school whose 16th birthday was Thursday.

Neighbors and classmates described the boy as pleasant but noted that he was changed by the death of his father two years ago. Classmates have identified the boy to USA TODAY, although law enforcement has yet to name him.

The suspect was a quiet, normal student, said Brooke Risley, a 16-year-old junior. He ran cross country and was a Boy Scout.

“He doesn’t seem like the kind of kid to do this,” Risley said.

Though the teen was sometimes a little sad, next-door neighbor Jared Axen said he didn’t come off as depressed.

His father died from a heart attack in December 2017, according to an obituary. Although his father had owned guns, Axen, 33, said he didn’t think the boy viewed them in an unhealthy way.

Who are the victims?

They’re all students. A 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy died at a local hospital. Wegener said the three injured victims are two girls, 14 and 15, and a 14-year-old boy. None of the victims have been identified by law enforcement.

Two of the injured are in good condition and the third is in fair condition, according to officials at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

Other than attending the same school, Wegener said law enforcement officials have not found a relationship between the shooter and the victims.

How did the suspect get a gun?

Law enforcement officials have not shared any information about how the suspected shooter obtained the gun used in Thursday’s assault. The 16-year-old couldn’t have legally bought it himself: In California, licensed dealers cannot sell a firearm to anyone under age 21.