GLENDALE, Arizona — Two 15-year-old female students were killed in Friday morning’s shooting at Independence High School in Glendale, Arizona, police said. Each 10th-grader was found with one gunshot wound outside the building, near the school’s cafeteria, Glendale police Officer Tracey Breeden said.
A weapon was found near the bodies, Breeden said. When reporters asked whether this was a homicide-suicide or a double suicide, Breeden said she “can’t confirm anything,” but she said investigators don’t believe any shooter is at large.
“We don’t believe that there’s any suspects that are out there … that we’re searching for,” Breeden said.
Breeden said she didn’t know what relationship, if any, the girls had.
The shooting happened at a covered patio area near the main building before 8 a.m., Breeden said.
“The incident was isolated. The school and neighborhood are safe,” Glendale police said on Twitter.
Police asked students’ parents to gather at a nearby Walmart to await further information. Video from CNN affiliate KNXV-TV showed scores of people gathered in the store’s parking lot as well more standing across the street.
“Our prayers are with the students, educators & families at Independence High School & all the first responders on the scene,” read a post on Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s Twitter account.
Independence High School opened in 1977 and is part of the Glendale Union High School District. More than 2,000 students are enrolled.
Glendale is a city of about 230,000 just northwest of Phoenix.
