Villanueva said in the press conference that six people, between 14 and 16 years old (including the suspect), were taken to local hospitals. The suspect is in grave condition, he said.
Schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District are no longer under lockdown, the school district announced in a tweet early Friday afternoon.
The district confirmed in a statement that the shooting occurred before classes started.
“First and foremost — our hearts go out to the families of those affected by this terrible incident. Words are insufficient in times such as these,” the statement reads.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed to The Hill earlier that several people were injured. It could not clarify if the victims were struck by gunfire, but said that several people were being transferred to local hospitals, including one via helicopter.
Authorities also locked down neighboring elementary schools and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station urged residents near the high school to “PLEASE LOCK DOORS and stay inside.”
The White House said in a statement that President Trump is monitoring the situation.
“My god, active shooter at my high school. 7 injured so far. Unsure if the suspect is caught yet. Praying for all… we have so many campaign interns and volunteers who go there,” former Rep. Katie Hill (D) tweeted.
“Heartbroken and praying for Santa Clarita. I’m incredibly grateful to the first responders who are on the scene of this active situation. If you are near the area, please listen to law enforcement. Our children and communities are being terrorized. We can’t accept this,” Sen. Kamala Harris (D), a White House candidate who has made gun control a focal point of her presidential campaign, added.
Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., last year, called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to take up gun legislation that has stalled in the Senate.
“Dear Parents, please go home today and hug your children and tell them you love them. When you do this, imagine that this is the last time you will ever see them alive again,” he tweeted. “Then demand @senatemajldr opens the Senate so that we can give your children a chance to live.”
Updated at 3:15 p.m.