Report: Three Injured In Santa Monica Shooting
TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. We're monitoring breaking news out of California where a school shooting took place at Santa Monica College. Three people have been transported to UCLA Medical Center according to Dale Tate, the hospital spokeswoman. Two of the victims are in critical condition and one person is in serious condition. A witness to the shooting spoke to our affiliate KCAL moments ago.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, tell me what you saw, what you heard.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, I was in the computer lab. I was on Facebook and I saw everyone running back towards the end -- the back of the library and so I went out and saw. An alarm went off. And then immediately I heard a shotgun blast and, like, at least eight probably handgun blasts. What seems to be, it was definitely a handgun. I know, because I hunt. So, it was a shotgun and then, like, at least handgun blasts.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you see any of the people who were injured?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did not. I was in the back of the library. I was too busy rushing to get out of there so --</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're glad you're OK. You said you spoke to someone who was closer to the front?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I spoke to someone who actually saw both the shooters. He said one of them had a shotgun and one of them had a handgun so --</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And this is something we haven't had confirmed we should clarify by police.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But another witness is telling you that he saw two shooters.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's correct. One was dressed in black overalls with dreadlocks he was white and I don't know about the other one but I know he saw a second one as well.</s>TAPPER: The California Highway Patrol is now saying that they are looking for a second shooter based on what witnesses are telling them. I want to bring in Officer Vince Ramirez from the California Highway Patrol. He's on the phone with me now. Officer Ramirez, thanks so much for joining us. What can you tell us about the search for a second shooter?</s>OFFICER VINCE RAMIREZ, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL (via telephone): Yes, good afternoon, sir. We do have reports and the reports started surfacing after the first suspect was taken into custody that there may be a second active shooter within the campus of Santa Monica City College. Now, we have several units there we're working in conjunction with Santa Monica police, which is the primary agency there. And then I understand there are units from LAPD and surrounding police agencies that are also assisting with this search. Now, the college is on lockdown. It is considered a crime scene right now. We understand there are still folks around the area. We're asking them to please leave the area so that we can continue the investigation and the search for the possible second shooter within the area there.</s>TAPPER: Officer Ramirez, we've been told by UCLA Medical Center that three people have been transported to their hospital. Two are in critical condition. One person is in serious condition. Are those the only three victims that you know of or are there others?</s>RAMIREZ: Sir, I do not have the confirmation on how many people were injured here. All I can tell you is we're getting reports that one or several people were injured. As to the extent of injuries, I don't have that information here just yet.</s>TAPPER: We're also looking at a live picture on KCAL, KCBS on our screen right now, sir, of what we're told is a case of arson nearby. Do you know if the cases are connected at all?</s>RAMIREZ: No. We have not gotten confirmation that there's a connection here. I understand there is a fire near the campus there and that's where part of the investigation is being conducted. We have several units there also assisting the Santa Monica police agency with that investigation right now. But, again, we have not put everything together. It's a fluid situation, so we're conducting the investigation, looking for a shooter, and we're asking folks to please stay away from the area if at all possible.</s>TAPPER: And, sir, there is a suspect in custody in the shooting, is that right?</s>RAMIREZ: Yes, I have information that there is one person in custody. And that came about, about 15, 20 minutes after we arrived, that there was somebody in custody. But we started getting reports that there was possibly a second shooter within the campus. So, again, that investigation, that search is under way.</s>TAPPER: I know that you have been on the scene providing law enforcement protection for other shootings. I have covered other shootings. There is almost always a report of a second shooter one way or another. Does this one seem more credible than what is generally standard that there is almost always a report of a second shooter even if there is not one?</s>RAMIREZ: We operate that way, sir. Anytime that there's an active shooter situation, we always assume that there's somebody else. Until we're satisfied that there is no second shooter or a third shooter then we will not leave the area. We will stay there. We will provide any type of law enforcement assistance as deemed necessary and if there is a second or third shooter, we will find them and bring them into custody as well.</s>TAPPER: And we understand that the shooting took place just -- or the reports of the shooting were received by law enforcement just before noon Pacific Time. How soon were officers on the scene as far as you know?</s>RAMIREZ: From our agency, I can tell you, our units arrived within a few minutes of receiving the 911 calls and, again, that's all being investigated. All those logs, all the 911 calls will be handed over to Santa Monica police as part of their investigation. Again, our units arrived pretty quickly after we got the 911 calls.</s>TAPPER: Officer Vince Ramirez from the California Highway Patrol, thank you so much for joining us. We'll check back with you for this disturbing story out of California.</s>RAMIREZ: Thank you.</s>TAPPER: Just when you thought the case could not get any more bizarre there's been an arrest in to the investigation who sent the letters with the lethal poison ricin with President Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. She's an actress who hacks been on television shows such as the "Walking Dead" and "The Vampire Diaries." We'll have much more on that case when we come back.