Santa Clarita school shooting: Two students killed in California with suspect in 'grave condition'
A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl have been killed
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The FBI is not aware of any motive or ideology that drove a 16-year-old boy to shoot and kill two teenage schoolmates and injure several others on his birthday.
Early this morning, the suspect entered Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, removed a semi-automatic pistol from his bag, then shot five people and himself.
A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl arrived in critical condition at a nearby hospital but later died.
The suspect is in "grave condition" after surviving a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Police say today is his birthday.
Three other people are being treated for injuries at area hospitals.
As dramatic aerial footage showed students being escorted from campus by armed deputies, politicians and gun control advocates railed against conditions they argue paved the way for yet another deadly school shooting.
News of the shooting was breaking as Senator Chris Murphy was introducing a measure calling for universal background checks, a proposal that was shut down by GOP senators.
"Republicans objected, my motion failed, and now, as a consequence, the slaughter of our children will continue," he said. "Devastating."
California Senator Kamala Harris told MSNBC that it's "pathetic that people yield to a gun lobby on an issue that affects all our children."
Katie Hill, the former California Congresswoman who recently stepped down from office, said in the statement that the "time is now" to defeat gun control opponents.
Follow updates as they happened.
LA County Fire Department now reporting that six victims have been transported to area hospitals, conditions unknown.
Two patients arrived at Henry Mayo Hospital in critical condition.
Three others were en route.
Mayo hospital now has four patients, with three people now listed in critical condition.
"Female and two males are in critical condition. One male is in good condition."
MSNBC breaking that the suspect is dead after a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva is reporting that the "suspect is in custody and being treated at a local hospital."
Authorities are holding a press conference momentarily.
LA County Sheriff's Office also confirming that the suspect is in custody.
A female victim at Henry Mayo Hospital has died.
Two male patients are in critical condition. One male patient is in good condition.
Sheriff Villanueva will be speaking to reporters from Central Park, the unification point for evacuated students and their parents.
The school has been fully evacuated.
A SWAT-like team is now combing through the campus for shell casings and other evidence as well as students who still might be hiding.
It's a large campus with multiple buildings and as many as 2,700 students, not including faculty and staff.
Waiting for school officials and police to arrive at the press conference.
Mayo hospital officials can't confirm whether the suspected shooter is one of the patients at that hospital.
Still no update whether the victims are students or school staff.
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