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.
Santa Clarita Capt. Robert Lewis: "We need to say, 'No more.' ... This is a tragic event that happens too frequently."
A 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy have died.
The suspect is in "grave condition" at a local hospital.
Former Congresswoman Katie Hill, who attended Saugus High School, says now is the time to "fight back":
Senator Chris Murphy had attempted to introduce his background check bill this morning as the shooting was breaking.
Hospital officials are providing some updates.
"There are more victims than ones in the hospital — families, the community."
Schools in the William S. Hart district are closed tomorrow. Mental health services are available off-site.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva says off-duty police on the school's campus were the first people on the scene.
One detective was dropping off a child and was able to respond "literally, within seconds."
Capt Kent Wegener says police are currently investigating the suspect's house after a search warrant was executed.
Capt Wegener says a message on the suspect's Instagram account — "Saugus, have fun at school tomorrow" — has been verified, but it was changed, meaning someone else has access to the account.
That's it for updates.
Thank you for following our live coverage.
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