Deadly school shooting in Santa Clarita

By Mike Hayes, Veronica Rocha, Meg Wagner and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 2:37 p.m. ET, November 15, 2019
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12:47 p.m. ET, November 15, 2019

Our live coverage of the shooting in Santa Clarita has ended for the day. For the latest news, read more here.

7:57 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

No motive known in Saugus High School shooting

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

There is no motive known for the shooting at Saugus High School today and it’s unclear what the connection is between the shooter and the victims other than they attended the same school, Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told reporters.

A search warrant has been served at what they believe is the suspect's residence, Wegener said. 

There is no history at that address to indicate there were any issues at the home prior to the shooting, the sheriff's captain said. 

Paul Delacourt, assistant director of the Los Angeles FBI field office, said there is no reason to believe the suspect was acting on behalf of any other group or ideology or that there were any co-conspirators.

8:26 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

Saugus High school shooter identified

From CNN's Josh Campbell and Whitney Wild

Two separate law enforcement sources have identified the name of the 16-year-old school shooter as Nathaniel Berhow.

The suspected shooter was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. Officials said he is in grave condition.

7:53 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

William S. Hart school district cancels all classes Friday

All schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District will be closed Friday following the shooting, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said during a news conference today.

The shooting occurred at Saugus High School, one of the district's campuses.

7:47 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

Bio on Instagram account linked to suspect was changed after shooting

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

An Instagram account linked to the Saugus High School shooting suspect had the bio changed by a third party after the shooting, Capt. Kent Wegener said during a news conference today. 

Wegener said the Instagram bio read “Saugus have fun at school tomorrow.” 

The bio was changed after the shooting to something else but it wasn’t changed by the suspect, the captain said. 

It’s unclear if a friend or a hacker changed the post, Wegener said.

7:36 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

The shooting took 16 seconds from start to finish

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

The shooting at Saugus High School took 16 seconds from start to finish, Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told reporters today.  

The shooter took out a handgun from his backpack and shot five people before turning the gun on himself, Wegener said during a news conference.

6:51 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

Trump sends his "deepest condolences to the families and friends" lost in today's shooting

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

President Trump tweeted about today's school shooting in California, writing that he continues to monitor “the terrible events at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California through our ongoing communications with Local, State, and Federal Authorities.”

“We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those tragically lost, and we pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded,” the President wrote.

Earlier today: Two students were killed and three others wounded when a student opened fire in the school this morning. 

Earlier in the day, the White House announced that the President was monitoring the situation. In comments he made in California, Vice President Mike Pence said he spoke to Trump about the shooting and offered his condolences.

Read Trump's tweet below:

5:29 p.m. ET, November 14, 2019

What we know so far about the Saugus High School shooting

D.J. Hamburger, center in blue, a teacher at Saugus High School, comforts a student after reports of a shooting at the school on Nov. 14 in Santa Clarita, California.
D.J. Hamburger, center in blue, a teacher at Saugus High School, comforts a student after reports of a shooting at the school on Nov. 14 in Santa Clarita, California.

A 16-year-old student opened fired on classmates at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, this morning.

Here's what we know about the shooting:

  • What happened: The shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita began before classes started, officials said, sending some students streaming out of the building as others hid.
  • The suspect: The suspected shooter, who turned 16 on Thursday, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. Officials said he is in grave condition.
  • The victims: A 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were killed and three other students were wounded and hospitalized, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
  • There's a video of the shooting: Video obtained at the scene clearly shows the suspect taking a .45-caliber pistol from a backpack before shooting five people and then himself, Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
  • The investigation: Detectives are investigating rumors that the suspect may have posted threats on social media, county Undersheriff Tim Murakami tweeted.

2:37 p.m. ET, November 15, 2019

Pence: "This was another heartbreaking day for students and parents in America"

From CNN's Maegan Vazquez 

Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Vice President Mike Pence gave his condolences to the families of the students killed in a school shooting in California today, saying he spoke to President Trump about the situation earlier in the day.

Speaking to a group at NASA in Northern California, Pence called it, “another heartbreaking day for students and parents.” Pence pledged that the administration is dedicated to ending the “scourge of gun violence.”

“I spoke to President Trump not long ago and he asked me to convey his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and the entire Santa Clarita community,” Pence said, adding that the President has “directed the full resources of the federal government to support local law enforcement efforts as the investigation goes forward.”

The Vice President also commended first responders and school officials.

“Our hearts are with the families of the victims,” he said. “Our hearts are with everyone in that community.”

“But to every American, and every one of you gathered here, we say, this President and this administration will remain resolved to bring the scourge of mass shootings to an end and we will not rest until we end this evil in our time and make our schools and our communities safe again,” he added.