Two women were critically injured in a shooting at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, California, on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:39 p.m. when the Inglewood Police Department received reports of gunfire at the school located at 8911 Aviation Blvd.
Emergency responders rushed the victims, both employees of the college, to a trauma center in Long Beach. Their conditions were described as critical.
Authorities quickly identified and apprehended a male suspect believed to be a former employee of the college. The suspect was taken into custody in Koreatown at approximately 5:45 p.m. after the police shared details about his vehicle with other law enforcement agencies.
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said the suspect was wearing clothing similar to a security guard’s uniform and was armed with a rifle at the time of the shooting. He emphasized that the motive behind the shooting was linked to the victims’ employment at the school, indicating it was not a random act of violence.
A 9mm shell casing was found on the campus, raising concerns about safety in the area. Mayor Butts expressed the unsettling nature of such violence occurring on a college campus, noting that it disrupts the sense of security in the community.
Following the shooting, police conducted a thorough search of the campus, clearing it by around 5:15 p.m. Students were instructed to shelter in place during the incident, with one student recounting feelings of fear and uncertainty.
The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, located near Los Angeles International Airport, offers programs in aviation maintenance. The campus has a security presence and conducts regular safety drills. Campus President Christopher Becker expressed the school’s commitment to safety and the close-knit community atmosphere that makes the incident particularly distressing for staff and students alike.