California High School Hostage Situation Ends with No Injuries

By Anastacia Mott Austin

A call to 911 was received at about 9:00 Friday morning reporting a student with a gun at Las Plumas high school in Oroville, California.

The 17-year-old male student was apparently angry with a teacher and came to the school with a loaded gun, initially taking more than 30 students hostage in the school’s band room. All but three students were either allowed to leave or escaped.

Located about 65 miles north of California’s capital, Sacramento, Oroville’s Las Plumas high school has 1,400 students.

The hostage situation lasted for about two hours, during which the gunman fired at least one shot into the air. The local SWAT team was called to the school, which was placed under lockdown for the duration of the incident. Other area schools were also placed under lockdown until the situation was resolved.

Oroville police captain Jerry Smith told reporters, "He had a handgun," adding that the student had not had any previous disciplinary problems at the school.

After two hours, the gunman surrendered to sheriff’s deputies, and the remaining three hostages, all young women, were released.

The worried parents of the high school’s students were instructed to go to a nearby church to pick up their children. Though initial reports of two students being shot made them understandably anxious, the rumor was dispelled and a cheer was heard among them as they realized that nobody had been hurt.

Kailena Malotte, 16, told reporters at The Sacramento Bee that she was in a classroom next to the band room where the hostages were being held. "All of a sudden, we heard a big ‘pop’," said Malotte, adding that her teacher told all of the students to hide in a utility closet, where she locked the door. "I never thought [something like this] would happen here," added Malotte.

Malotte’s mother, Kelina, wept with relief when she saw that her daughter was safe, but added, "I’m still nervous."

The relieved parents were impressed with the calm, swift reactions of local law enforcement officials. Sally Griffin is the mother of high school freshman Megan. "We're always afraid of this happening, but this response right here, it relieved me so much and made me proud of my county," said Griffin to the press.

The teenaged gunman was taken into custody and faces numerous charges, including assault and kidnapping. His name was not released because of his age.