Sacramento, Calif. (AP) - A young man with a shotgun took an administrator hostage at a high school Wednesday and was shot by police who found the two struggling over the weapon.
Mario Rodriguez, 19, was in critical but stable condition after being shot in the shoulder.
The Rio Cazadero High administrator, whose name was not released, was in good condition with a leg injury. Though police initially said he was shot, either by police or the gunman, sheriff's Sgt. Lou Fatur said the administrator may have injured his leg in a struggle with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was armed with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a realistic-looking replica handgun when he came onto the campus just before 9 a.m., Fatur said. He said it was unclear if Rodriguez was a student at the school.
"He was hunting somebody down with a couple of guns," Fatur said. He would not elaborate on the dispute.
The deputy and two police officers who responded to school employees' 911 calls "absolutely prevented what could have been just mayhem," Fatur said. "A kid with two guns was obviously here to do some major damage."
Rodriguez was shot after police came upon him struggling over the shotgun with the administrator in the doorway of a remote classroom, Fatur said. It was unclear if students were in the classroom, he said.
The two officers opened fire, and both Rodriguez and the administrator fell to the floor, Fatur said. He said Rodriguez reached for the shotgun and rose, and was shot again by the officers and by the deputy.
Police had posted extra patrols at area high schools Tuesday, after a 15-year-old was shot to death near C.K. McClatchy High in front of dozens of other students who had just finished classes. The suspect is believed to be a suspended student associated with a street gang, police said.
Though police initially feared Rodriguez was attempting to retaliate, Police Chief Albert Najera said there appeared to be no connection.
About 280 students attend Rio Cazadero, an alternative high school for students who have fallen behind in classes.
Students were taken to a neighboring high school so their parents could pick them up there.
Mario Rodriguez, 19, was in critical but stable condition after being shot in the shoulder.
The Rio Cazadero High administrator, whose name was not released, was in good condition with a leg injury. Though police initially said he was shot, either by police or the gunman, sheriff's Sgt. Lou Fatur said the administrator may have injured his leg in a struggle with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was armed with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a realistic-looking replica handgun when he came onto the campus just before 9 a.m., Fatur said. He said it was unclear if Rodriguez was a student at the school.
"He was hunting somebody down with a couple of guns," Fatur said. He would not elaborate on the dispute.
The deputy and two police officers who responded to school employees' 911 calls "absolutely prevented what could have been just mayhem," Fatur said. "A kid with two guns was obviously here to do some major damage."
Rodriguez was shot after police came upon him struggling over the shotgun with the administrator in the doorway of a remote classroom, Fatur said. It was unclear if students were in the classroom, he said.
The two officers opened fire, and both Rodriguez and the administrator fell to the floor, Fatur said. He said Rodriguez reached for the shotgun and rose, and was shot again by the officers and by the deputy.
Police had posted extra patrols at area high schools Tuesday, after a 15-year-old was shot to death near C.K. McClatchy High in front of dozens of other students who had just finished classes. The suspect is believed to be a suspended student associated with a street gang, police said.
Though police initially feared Rodriguez was attempting to retaliate, Police Chief Albert Najera said there appeared to be no connection.
About 280 students attend Rio Cazadero, an alternative high school for students who have fallen behind in classes.
Students were taken to a neighboring high school so their parents could pick them up there.
