Sheriff: Teen critically wounded in Taft high school shooting
TAFT, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A student was critically wounded Thursday morning in a shooting at Taft Union High School.
The alleged shooter, a 16-year-old boy, missed the beginning of school before interrupting a science class, armed with a shotgun and "numerous" 12-gauge shotgun shells, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said.
Full 10-minute press conference video >>
Youngblood said the suspect planned the shooting the night before and likely used his sibling's gun.
The victim was reportedly an intended target. That victim, another 16-year-old boy whose name was withheld, was taken via medevac to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield. He was in critical but stable condition, Youngblood said.
The suspect allegedly shot a second time at the 28 students fleeing the classroom "and miraculously didn't injure anyone," the sheriff said.
Some students got out the back door, while some barricaded themselves in a classroom storage closet.
A third and final shotgun blast was directed to the windows of the classroom.
Teacher Ryan Heber engaged the alleged shooter in conversation, trying to stop the attack. A campus supervisor was in the area and also engaged the shooter in conversation. Continue story >>
The shooter was eventually talked into laying down his gun and was taken into custody by Taft police officers, who were on campus within 60 seconds of receiving 911 calls, the sheriff said.
The alleged shooter apparently lives close to the school, and neighbors saw him carrying the gun into school and called 911.
"First and foremost, I'd like to let you know that the family members and the victim are in our thoughts and prayers for their speedy recovery," Taft Police Chief Ed Whiting said. "We're very fortunate to have the kind of response that we did today because of a very good working relationship that we have with the Kern County Sheriff's Department."
Whiting said his officers have been trained in "active-shooter" situations.
Youngblood said the suspect is being interrogated by his officers in Bakersfield. Youngblood said he's heard unconfirmed information about a "hit list," and his detectives are looking into that possibility.
The sheriff said the suspect believed he was bullied, though Youngblood didn't know if he actually was bullied.
The teacher received minor injuries but refused medical attention. One student was taken to the hospital with possible damaged hearing, because the shotgun was discharged close to her head. Another student received minor injuries while falling over a table trying to escape inside the classroom.
"We will never know what his plan was, I don't think that he probably knew what his plan was," Youngblood said. "So we wont know what might have occurred had that teacher and that counselor not stepped in, and thank God we will never know."
Taft high school classes were cancelled for Friday and will resume Monday. Counselors will be on site both days to help students, staff and parents.
Reaction from Kern County elected officials:
"I FEEL THE SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THE BULLYIED TEEN SOME SORT OF PROTECTION FROM THE PUNKS WHO BULLYIED HIM.. HE WAS THE FIRST VICTIM OF THIS TRADGEDY, ALOT OF TEENS WHO ARE BULLYIED COMMIT SUICIDE, THEN THE FOCUS TURNS TO THE PERSON WHO BULLIED THE DEAD TEEN...I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE... HELP THE VICTIMS OF BULLYING BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!"Â
WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS WHO ARE BULLYING? HOW ARE/WERE THEY PUNISHED IF IT WAS REPORTED TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS LAST YEAR? FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THE SHOOTER MADE SOME SORT OF HIT LIST LAST YEAR, THE SCHOOL FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION, IT WAS REPORTED BY THE SHOOTER THAT HE WAS A VICTIM OF BULLYING AND THATS WHY HE CREATED THE SUPPOSED HIT LIST. HELLO PEOPLE HE WAS REACHING OUT FOR HELP, FOR PROTECTION, AT THAT TIME....AND NOW AFTER TODAYS EVENTS I THINK ITS OBVIOUS HE WAS STILL A VICTIM OF BULLYING....WHAT HE DID TODAY WAS WRONG, VERY WRONG,
i no both kids that  were involved and the one that got shot had bullied the shooter. the shooter had also tried to get help and the teacher had over look it... im not saying it was right that he shot some one but when he reach out the teachers should have helped him not over looked it and brushed it off
 The shooter is the VICTIM in my opinion.  The school knew he was being bullied last year, but chose to suspend him from school because of a supposed "hit list"...REALLY?  So how were the BULLYS punished, or were they?  The shooter isn't the only one that was bullied by these Bullies, there are reports that other students were or have been bullied by these bullies.  The young man that was shot yesterday is reported to be BIG, much much bigger than his shooter.
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The VICTIM should have received protection from these bullies when  the school first knew there was an issue, but instead they put the VICTIM in the same class as one of the bullies...
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My heart goes out to the VICTIM who is sitting in Juvenile Hall, I can only imagine what he is going through right now...My prayers are with you.... Â @Boomer Mead
I would not send my child to that particular school and if the powers that be refused to help with the situation I would keep the child home for his own protection
(WASCO,CA(Teresa Burke elem))Hello Kern county Im a very concerned mother of an autistic child that has been undergoing bullying at his school for numorus years, and have said he wants to die because no one in the school wants to be his friend and the teachers ignore him until he acts out then im notified but the kids continue to make fun of him and being autistic is hard enough for my lil guy to go through to let alone feel all alone at school. PLEASE LORD WATCH OVER MY CHILDREN WHILE THEY ATTEND THE SCAREY MONEY HUNGRY PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!
@Ebonisha Gibson Thomas I pray the Lord will watch over your children & yourself throughout your lives. I can very much relate to your son & have nothing but love & best wishes for your family.
I truly hope he'll find lasting peace & happiness. That's all I want. To be allowed to create, contribute & live in peace. This current world is a wicked place though.Â
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 @Ron I'm tired of the penis-less liberals working their mouths all the time and trying to impose their vision of like minded sheep on all Americans.
 @Ron All of these "advanced" countries you talk of rely on the US (who have guns) to protect them. They also have twice the violent crimes. Look at Chicago.
 @Kareen Mays  @Ron Mexico has very strict gun laws... See how well that's working out for them... Chicago (South Chicago specifically) had a record homicide count in 2012 while handguns were illegal in that city. People who OBEY the law are who I want to have guns. Murder is already illegal, and that typically doesn't stop a murderer... Anyone really think putting one more law on the books will change their mind? (Ron,... gun nuts and penis extenders?? Seek professional help. It's not too late.)
My prayers are with the faculty and families of all impacted by this horrible incident. Â I think it's time to implement metal detectors and armed officers IMMEDIATELY on ALL campuses. Â At this point, the issue of "the right to bear arms" is moot. I am 46 years old, and I never imagined myself wanting armed officers and metal detecting devices in schools. Â We must provide all levels of educational facilities the means to be occupied safely. Â I believe it should be a number one priority that we protect our students and faculty at all times. Â ALL TIMES! Â No one wants to be on the other end of the phone when the call is made that this happened at your loved one's school; be it student or faculty. Â Â
I'd like to know who these people are that are raising their children to believe that killing other people is the thing to do when you don't agree with them. People not being good parents are a major part of the problem.
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The sheriff's deputy was not at the school today. He was snowed in at home.
There was an armed Sheriff's deputy patrolling the campus at the time. So much for the NRA's "arm every school" agenda.
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Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult. Â He reportedly used a shotgun. I'll bet it was kept unlocked at home. Â We need nationwide mandatory safe storage of guns in homes.
 @Baldr Odinson The kid didn't have to get the gun at home. If he was that determined he could have gotten it from criminals just as easily as at home. If the teachers were armed they could have prevented any shooting.
Baldr-
You should get the facts straight and engage your brain before you open your mouth. According to information at  the news conference, the armed campus security was not on campus because he was snowed in. To expose a major flaw in your "thought" process, safety procedures do not prevent every injury. If we use your illogical thought process regarding having armed responders in school not working, the same can be said for seat belts and air bags not working to prevent injuries in auto accidents. Preventative measures work, but are not 100% effective in every instance.
 @Baldr Odinson Are YOU going to come into my home to verify that I have the mandatory "safe storage of guns" in MY home? I'd like to see you try...if you make it past my dog that doesn't really like strangers all that much, you'll get to deal with me.