Santa Clarita Valley History In Pictures

2 Students Killed, 4 Wounded in Saugus High School Shooting.


November 14, 2019, approximately 11 a.m.

Two people were killed and four others, all students, were wounded when they were shot at Saugus High School Thursday morning.

Law enforcement officials confirmed the identity of the gunman as Nathaniel Berhow, who turned 16 years old Thursday.

Sheriff's officials confirmed two dead during a news conference after the shooting: a 14-year-old male student and a 16-year-old female student. Berhow was still in critical condition as of 11:58 a.m. with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The 16-year-old girl died at 9:23 a.m., according to Homicide Bureau officials with the Sheriff's Department. The boy was reported deceased around 11:40 a.m., per Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The other shooting victims included: Berhow, who's in critical condition; two female students, age 14 and 15, respectively; and a 14-year-old male student.

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Nathaniel Berhow, 16.

A tweet from Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital hospital at 10:01 a.m. reported: "#saugushighshooting: update: one female deceased patient. Two critical male patients. One male patient in good condition."

One of the male patients in critical condition is the shooter, according to LASD officials. The male patient in good condition has been treated and released from the hospital, Dr. Larry Kidd, Chief Clinical Officer of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, said at a 4 p.m. update.

A search warrant for the shooter's residence in Saugus was being executed Thursday afternoon, LASD officials said at the afternoon update.

Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau confirmed in a morning news conference that first responders found six gunshot victims in the campus quad when they arrived on the scene.

"The suspect was later identified as one of the victims who was found in the quad," Wegener said. "He is identified as a 16-year-old male whose birthday is today. The weapon that he used was recovered at the scene. It's a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, which had no more rounds in it."

Wegener said a search warrant was being sought for the suspect's residence, and students who witnessed the shooting were being interviewed at Grace Baptist Church.

"Detectives have reviewed the video at the scene, which clearly shows the subject in the quad withdraw a handgun from his backpack, shoot and wound five people, and then shoot himself in the head," Wegener said. "There are no other subjects who are outstanding as part of this incident."

A law enforcement official said their information has identified five victims. Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital confirmed five patients are being treated. Providence Holy Cross confirmed two others were airlifted to the hospital and are being treated for injuries. Both were students were able to talk, according to an official with Providence, who was not able to release specifics on their condition at this time.

 

From the original story, Thursday morning:

Fire officials confirmed the first call was received at 7:38 a.m. Thursday.

After a manhunt for the suspected shooter in the hills and neighborhoods near the high school, law enforcement officials confirmed the suspect was in custody.

The shooting was attributed to a 16-year-old male whose birthday is today, according to Sheriff's Department officials.

"The description of the shooter is a male Asian with dark clothing," said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.

"We are searching everywhere," she said, before it was confirmed that the suspect was in custody.

FBI officials confirmed at 11:40 a.m. during a live news conference that there were no other threats suspected at any other schools in connection with this incident.

Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department put their "active shooter" training to use shortly after 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

One student was shot in the torso and treated by a teacher in one of the classrooms.

"We heard gunshots," the teacher said.

Law enforcement officials confirmed multiple shots heard, with more than one victim.

"We do have victims," Miller said.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital initially reported via its official Twitter account: "We have received 2 patients in critical condition, 3 en route. We will provide updates as they become available."

The SCV Sheriff's Station advised residents via Twitter: "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."

Paramedics responded this morning to Saugus High School for reports of at least one person shot, suffering a gunshot wound.

During the news conference after the shooting, County Supervisor Kathryn Barger praised sheriff's officials for arriving on scene within two minutes of the report of the shooting.

Saugus High student Hannah Schooping-Gutierrez said she heard three shots during first period, while she was at the library.

Her first instinct was to run, leave all of her belongings and get off campus, she said. She and senior Lauren Farmer went off campus and found a student who lives across the street, and was taking in students who were fleeing the campus for safety.

They said they hid until they thought it was safe to come out.

At least half a dozen ambulances and numerous Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station vehicles descended on the school shortly after 7:35 a.m.

"We are responding to reports of a gunshot wound," said Chris Thomas, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Two students are being treated at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills after they were airlifted from the high school

"We have two students, said Patricia Aidem, public relations director for Providence Holy Cross, as of about 9:30 a.m. "We're still evaluating, on conditions, and both are talking."

As of about 10:30 a.m., hundreds of students gathered at Central Park in Saugus, while dozens of media outlets gather in the south end of Central Park, awaiting a news conference announced by Sheriff's Department officials, who are expected to give the latest information on the shooting and investigation. Meanwhile, hundreds of parents are also standing by, clutching their phones waiting to hear from their children.

Students now are standing in line on the back soccer fields of Central Park waiting to be interviewed and checked out before being released to their parents.

Hart District officials on the scene at approximately 10:45 a.m. said law enforcement officials were still combing through the campus to ensure there were no additional students in danger.

"They're just re-checking the rooms," said school board member Joe Messina, who was outside Saugus High. "They're making sure we don't have any kids who are still hiding, thinking there's something going on. (The deputies) are doing a great job."

Signal Staff Writers Caleb Lunetta and Tammy Murga and SCVTV/SCVNews.com Editor-Reporter Stephen K. Peeples contributed.


Above: November 14, 2019, approximately 4 p.m.


image
Aerial Photos: KTLA-5 News helicopter.


image Above and below: Law enforcement enters home in 22900 block of Sycamore Creek Drive.


image Above: Students are evacuated to Santa Clarita Central Park.


image Photo: Two-8-Nine Media.


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