Taft High School Shooting in Calif. as Biden Meets With NRA (VIDEO)
[UPDATE 5:45 p.m. ET] The gunman in the Taft High School shooting on Thursday has been identified as a 16-year-old student. One victim is in critical but stable condition and another received minor wounds. The shooter was talked into surrendering by a teacher and another staff member and is in police custody. About 900 students are enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
This is an update on the California shooting. The original story is below.
On the same day that Vice President Joe Biden is meeting with representatives of the National Rifle Association (NRA), a school shooting took place Thursday morning at Taft Union High School near Bakersfield, Calif.
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The latest school shooting too place shortly after 9 a.m. local time, and reports have indicated that the shooter was taken into custody about 20 minutes later. Early reports say that one student, possibly two, were shot and that they were being airlifted to a hospital in Bakersfield for treatment.
Kern County sheriff spokesman Ray Pruitt told reporters the gunman was a student and that a shotgun was used.
23 ABC News reported they received calls from students hiding in closets advising them of the shooting.
The shooting comes on the second day of Biden's meetings with interested parties on the issue of gun control and access to guns by people with mental health conditions.
A week after the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in mid-December, the NRA responded to calls for tighter gun restrictions by suggesting that each school in America have police officers or armed guards on campus.
That suggestion was met with some resistance by gun control advocates such as Calif. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) who is making plans to once again try and restrict purchases of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is the House Majority Whip, represents the area where Taft Union High School is located and offered an emailed statement to The Christian Post soon after hearing the news.
"I am deeply saddened and troubled by news of the shooting. Judy and I offer our prayers to the victims, their families and the entire Taft community."
Further updates will be posted as more information emerges.
Here is a video report of the Taft High School shooting:
