Carlsbad police confirmed that two school children were grazed in the arm by bullets as a man fired shots at Kelly Elementary School in Carlsbad shortly after noon today. Several bystanders, including some construction workers on site, tackled the shooter and disarmed him.
"I believe we had two wounded by gunshots. I understand there may be a couple of bumps and bruises inside the campus. But other than the two wounded by gunshots I don't believe we had any other serious injuries," said Carlsbad Police Lt. Kelly Cain.
Cain said the names of the witnesses and those injured have not been released.
The children have been hospitalized, but their wounds are described as not critical. Several other children sustained minor injuries when seeking cover at the time of the shooting, according to police.
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Carlsbad police have a suspect and a weapon in custody at Carlsbad Police Headquarters. The suspect reportedly gave police at least three names when asked.
Witnesses said the suspect had a .357 Magnum, pockets full of ammunition, a one-gallon gas tank as well as a propane tank.
"This guy gets out of his car and starts shooting rounds from a handgun. A couple of citizens, literally a couple of guys who had pulled over their vehicles, tackled him down," said Lt. Cain.
Cain said there were no other suspects.
The assailant "sprayed" gunfire in an open area at the school before apparently running out of ammunition and trying to flee.
Terry Lynn, a witness who lives across the street from the school, told NBC 7/39 the assailant seemed "crazy."
Police, fire crews, the FBI and the CIA were at the school, according to KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis who is on the scene. The school is cordoned off with yellow police tape.
Although parents were told to wait at the nearby park, many gathered outside of the school..
Grace Carlos's granddaughter Ella is a fifth grader at Kelly Elementary School. Carlos says she first heard about the shooting at Kelly at 1 p.m. today.
She said she barely had time to process the news when a neighbor who works at the school called her to say Ella was safe, but Carlos says she remains shocked.
“Carlsbad, they have such wonderful schools and they're so safe and nothing like that would happen here and today I hear this and it’s shocking, it's unbelievable," said Carlos.
