Do Something: Santa Clarita School Shooting

What Happened

Two students are dead and at least three more are injured after a teenage gunman opened fire at a Santa Clarita High School on the morning of Thursday, November 14. The suspect, a 16-year-old student, is in custody.

• About 20 minutes before classes started on November 14, 2019, a gunman opened fire at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California (which is about 40 miles north of Los Angeles).
• According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, five students were transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Two students have died, and at least three others remain in the hospital.
• As students ran to escape the shooting, Hannah de Caussin and her daughter, a Saugus High School student, helped shelter students in their home nearby.
• This attack comes exactly a year after the Rancho Tehama Reserve shooting in Northern California and a year and one week after the Thousand Oaks shooting outside of Los Angeles.
• Days before this shooting in California, at least two Denver teens and 16 people in Chicago were wounded by gun violence.

On behalf of the DoSomething staff and community, our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all those affected by gun violence. We thank the educators, first responders, medical staff, law enforcement, and all those responding to this tragedy with action and hope.

Meanwhile, in the Senate

• This same morning, the Senate was debating H.R. 8, a bill that would require background checks on all firearms sales in the country. In a 2016 survey, more than 90% of Americans indicated they support universal background checks.
• News of the shooting broke as Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked Sen. Chris Murphy’s motion to consider the bill.
• Sen. Richard Blumenthal heard news of the shooting while he was mid-sentence, speaking on the Senate floor. He asked his colleagues, “How can we turn the other way? How can we refuse to see that shooting in real time, demanding our attention, requiring our action?"

What Young People Are Saying

“I'm a survivor of the Santa Fe High School shooting. I'm so sorry that gun violence and evil has found its way in your school and community however, keep your faith and stay hopeful it won't always be this way. I know that it sounds cliche but from a survivor's perspective that's what you have to tell yourself to keep going. The road to getting better/recovering may be long and hard (I know it has been that way for me almost 2 years) but the support you'll receive and the courage, bravery, love, and resilience you'll see will remind you that you're not alone and give you more of purpose, give you more of a reason to live. Again, I'm so sorry this has happened, our community is sending hugs and love your way.” --DoSomething Club Leader Jai

“Peace, peace, for those dreamers who lost their lives on the least expected day. They will be remembered by each one of us, their lives will be another impulse to continue fighting against gun violence. Your dreams will remain alive in the rest of the students who will join to combat this problem. I hope that their families will find peace over time, comfort around them. Your absence will be felt but your memory will always be high. Together we will fight for you, and to avoid future attacks.” --DoSomething Club Leader Stefani



“What happened in Santa Clarita was a tragedy that affected us all across the nation. The death of the innocent becomes engraved in our minds and hearts, and although we know that we cannot bring them back, we are given the opportunity to represent them bring a lasting memory for the victims in a forward march to peace and equality. I pray for the victims and their families. Make it be known that they are all in our hearts.” --DoSomething Club Leader Otufa

“This is too familiar. The helicopter footage of a school, the single file lines of students, the contradictory information, the stretchers with wounded children, the scared parents,” said March for Our Lives co-founder Lauren Hogg. “Santa Clarita we are with you.”

“My heart is heavy hearing news of a mass shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, CA. We cannot let this be our reality,” said Youth Over Guns founder Ramon Contreras. “The lives of young people are at stake & yet no action from Republicans. This could’ve been prevented. We can have an America safe from gun violence.”

“Today, it’s Santa Clarita. Tomorrow, it’s your community. I am sick of kids with hands above their heads. I am sick of tiny coffins,” said Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting. “I am sick of our lives being torn apart while our leaders sell our politics to the highest bidder. If you aren’t willing to fix this, retire.”

What You Can Do

1) Practice self-care and help others do the same. Read and share this resource on coping with tragedy in the news and this guide on supporting victims in the aftermath of mass shootings. You can also text HOME to 741-741 to access free, 24/7 support from a trained counselor.

2) Demand action from lawmakers. The Senate was literally debating a background checks bill at the moment the news of this shooting broke. Nearly 90% of Americans support background checks for gun owners. The House of Representative has already passed a bill -- use our easy tool to email your senators now.

3) Register to vote. Care about stopping gun violence? One of the most impactful things you can do is register to vote and elect lawmakers dedicated to protecting our schools and communities. Take 2 minutes and use our simple online tool to register to vote.