Gunfire erupted this morning at Taft High School in San Joaquin County this morning.
The incident happened around 9 am Pacific Standard Time. Two, possibly three people have been reportedly shot, and the shooter has been taken into custody.
Capt. Eric Coughran of the Kern County Fire Department told sources that the first victims injuries were minor, and they have refused treatment. However, the second victim has been airlifted to a local area hospital. The condition of the second victim is currently unknown.
The shooting occurred on the second floor of the school’s Science building. Kern County Sheriff’s Department officials are currently going through the school room-by-room in order to secure it, and the shooter’s weapon has been located and confiscated.
The shooter’s identity is also unknown.
Students were evacuated to the football field, and are currently being reunited with their parents.
No other details are currently available, but the Kern County Sheriff will be hosting a press conference in just 30 minutes.
Taft is in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley, about 30 miles southwest from Bakersfield.
We will keep you updated as the story develops.
[UPDATE 1]
It has been confirmed that the the two victims are one student and one teacher. The third victim remains unconfirmed. The shooter has been reported to also be a student at the school.
[UPDATE 2]
The Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Taft Police Department Chief Ed Whiting, and Representative McCarthy just concluded their press conference on this morning’s events.
At 9 am the shooter entered the school carrying a 12 gauge shotgun, that was reported to police by a neighbor who saw the 16 year old walking into the school. Within 60 seconds of the first call Taft Police Department arrived on the scene.
The student entered the first period class that he had skipped and shot one student. That student has been identified as a 16 year old male, and apparently aimed the gun at a second student and fired. The shooter missed the second student before a courageous instructor stepped in an engaged the shooter in conversation.
The instructor was joined by the campus supervisor, and they both talked the shooter into putting the gun down and waited for police to arrive.
The instructor was hit by a pellet in the head from the shotgun blast, but refused medical treatment. The student that was shot has been transported to the hospital and remain in stable but critical condition.
Currently no names are being released, but it is safe to say that both the teacher and campus supervisor are BAMF’s for saving the estimated 30 lives that were in that classroom.
