Just 16 seconds passed from the time a California high school student pulled a .45 semi-automatic pistol from his backpack in an outdoor school courtyard and emptied the weapon, killing two classmates and wounding three more, before shooting himself in the head and collapsing.

Police investigating the Thursday morning shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Los Angeles, said they did not yet know the motive.

The shooter's name was not released by police, who said it was his 16th birthday. He saved his last bullet for himself, and was in grave condition at a hospital, authorities said.

Early on Friday, two girls aged 14 and 15 were being treated at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California and were listed in good and fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

At the Henry Mayo Hospital in Santa Clarita, authorities said a 14-year-old male was treated and released, and the other students died.

No names of the wounded or the dead were released early on Friday, but the two slain students were a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy.

Captain Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said surveillance video footage showed the suspect opening fire from a single stationary position, shooting his victims in rapid succession before turning the gun on himself.

The scene at Saugus High School was reminiscent of other mass shootings at U.S. schools, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where a former student with an assault gun killed 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018.

It was the 85th incident of gunfire at a school this year, according to Everytown, a gun control advocacy group.

Police said the accused shooter had acted alone. Investigators descended on his family home, blocking off the street. They found no further danger there.

A next-door neighbour, registered nurse Jared Axen, said the suspect had seemed introverted and sad, possibly despondent over the loss of his father from a heart attack in December 2017.

"I would say he (the boy) was hurting and couldn’t ask for help," Axen said of the suspect, who was a track athlete at the school, involved in Boy Scouts and liked the outdoors, going on hunting trips with his father.

There was no immediate word on where the suspect obtained the weapon.

Just 16 seconds passed from the time a California high school student pulled a .45 semi-automatic pistol from his backpack in an outdoor school courtyard and emptied the weapon, killing two classmates and wounding three more, before shooting himself in the head and collapsing.

Just 16 seconds passed from the time a California high school student pulled a .45 semi-automatic pistol from his backpack in an outdoor school courtyard and emptied the weapon, killing two classmates and wounding three more, before shooting himself in the head and collapsing. Police investigating the Thursday morning shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Los Angeles, said they did not yet know the motive. The shooter's name was not released by police, who said it was his 16th birthday. He saved his last bullet for himself, and was in grave condition at a hospital, authorities said. Early on Friday, two girls aged 14 and 15 were being treated at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California and were listed in good and fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. At the Henry Mayo Hospital in Santa Clarita, authorities said a 14-year-old male was treated and released, and the other students died. No names of the wounded or the dead were released early on Friday, but the two slain students were a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Captain Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said surveillance video footage showed the suspect opening fire from a single stationary position, shooting his victims in rapid succession before turning the gun on himself. The scene at Saugus High School was reminiscent of other mass shootings at U.S. schools, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where a former student with an assault gun killed 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018. It was the 85th incident of gunfire at a school this year, according to Everytown, a gun control advocacy group. Police said the accused shooter had acted alone. Investigators descended on his family home, blocking off the street. They found no further danger there. A next-door neighbour, registered nurse Jared Axen, said the suspect had seemed introverted and sad, possibly despondent over the loss of his father from a heart attack in December 2017. "I would say he (the boy) was hurting and couldn’t ask for help," Axen said of the suspect, who was a track athlete at the school, involved in Boy Scouts and liked the outdoors, going on hunting trips with his father. There was no immediate word on where the suspect obtained the weapon.

Police look for motive behind California school shooting

At least five people were wounded after a shooter opened fire at a high school in Santa Clarita, California, a city north of Los Angeles, officials said.

A suspect described as a male Asian in black clothing was still at large, the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff said on Twitter.

"This is still a very active situation. Reports of approximately 5 victims being treated. Parents, deputies are on scene everywhere protecting your children," the Santa Clarita Valley branch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office tweeted.

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This is still a very active situation. Reports of approximately 5 victims being treated. Parents, deputies are on scene everywhere protecting your children.
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Saugus High School and all schools in the William S. Hart district were placed on lockdown while authorities flooded the area.

Video from local NBC television showed a line of students walking away from the school and a row of police and fire department vehicles parked out front.

KTLA video, broadcast on CNN, showed one woman being loaded into an ambulance.

"Several injured. LASD resources on-site and searching for the suspect," Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Undersheriff Tim Murakami said in a post on Twitter. "Will be locking down area schools. Advise residents to shelter in place and report any suspicious activity."

At least five people were wounded after a shooter opened fire at a high school in Santa Clarita, California, a city north of Los Angeles, officials said. A suspect described as a male Asian in black clothing was still at large, the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff said on Twitter.

At least five people were wounded after a shooter opened fire at a high school in Santa Clarita, California, a city north of Los Angeles, officials said. A suspect described as a male Asian in black clothing was still at large, the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff said on Twitter. "This is still a very active situation. Reports of approximately 5 victims being treated. Parents, deputies are on scene everywhere protecting your children," the Santa Clarita Valley branch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office tweeted. This is still a very active situation. Reports of approximately 5 victims being treated. Parents, deputies are on scene everywhere protecting your children. — SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) November 14, 2019 × Saugus High School and all schools in the William S. Hart district were placed on lockdown while authorities flooded the area. Video from local NBC television showed a line of students walking away from the school and a row of police and fire department vehicles parked out front. KTLA video, broadcast on CNN, showed one woman being loaded into an ambulance. "Several injured. LASD resources on-site and searching for the suspect," Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Undersheriff Tim Murakami said in a post on Twitter. "Will be locking down area schools. Advise residents to shelter in place and report any suspicious activity."

At least five wounded after shooting at California high school: Officials

After reports that a person with a gun was seen on campus at a Southern California high school on Friday, police have detained one suspect, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Police had not yet confirmed whether the reports were true or whether any shots had been fired, a spokesman, Deputy Charles Moore, said.

Deputies were still searching Highland High School in Palmdale, California, around 8:15 a.m. local time (1515 GMT), a little more than an hour after the reports first arrived, the department said.

The spokesman said police received multiple reports of an armed man at the school, which is about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles.&nbsp;

Sheriff's deputies also headed to a second school, Manzanita Elementary School, a few miles away after receiving reports that people thought they heard gunfire, according to another spokesman, Bob Boese.

"People heard shots, but there's no confirmation on that," Boese said.

CNN reported that three schools nearby were on lockdown. School district officials could not immediately be reached on Friday morning.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Police detained one suspect in connection with reports that a person with a gun was seen on campus on Friday morning at a Southern California high school

After reports that a person with a gun was seen on campus at a Southern California high school on Friday, police have detained one suspect, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Police had not yet confirmed whether the reports were true or whether any shots had been fired, a spokesman, Deputy Charles Moore, said. Deputies were still searching Highland High School in Palmdale, California, around 8:15 a.m. local time (1515 GMT), a little more than an hour after the reports first arrived, the department said. The spokesman said police received multiple reports of an armed man at the school, which is about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. Sheriff's deputies also headed to a second school, Manzanita Elementary School, a few miles away after receiving reports that people thought they heard gunfire, according to another spokesman, Bob Boese. "People heard shots, but there's no confirmation on that," Boese said. CNN reported that three schools nearby were on lockdown. School district officials could not immediately be reached on Friday morning. (With inputs from Reuters)

Possible shooting reported at Los Angeles County high school: Police