A gun was fired on campus at Berkeley High School this morning at around 8:45 a.m. A bullet went through the wall of a portable classroom from where the round was fired.
Two suspects, at least one of whom was a BHS student, were detained by the Berkeley Police Department and the school’s security staff at around 10:18 a.m., following a pursuit. The weapon has not been found, according to BPD spokesperson Sgt Mary Kusmiss.
At 8:45 a.m., a BUSD-employed landscape gardener heard a gun shot and reported it to his supervisor who in turn informed the school. The gun was fired from the men’s bathroom in a portable classroom on the north-east side of campus, adjacent to Milvia.
The BPD received at call at 8:59 a.m. informing them that BHS security officers were following a possible “responsible” east bound on Durant Avenue. He was brandishing an unknown weapon. Two students and the landscape gardener confirmed witnessing a firearm.
The school was put on lockdown, according to a student report at 9:34 a.m.
A sergeant and several police officers conducted an area check. The sergeant was given a detailed description of one of the suspects at 9:23 a.m. At around 10:18 a.m. two young men were detained between the G and H buildings on the BHS campus.
The weapon is still outstanding, according to Sgt Kusmiss.
“We are very concerned that the weapon is not with them,” said Sgt Kusmiss. She added that the possibility that the round that went off could have struck someone outside the building is also very concerning.
As we write, the BPD ID technical team is on the scene inspecting the portable building and the two young men have been taken to the Berkeley Police Station for juvenile booking.
BHS Principal Pasquale Scuderi is expected to make an announcement at the school imminently. We will provide updates on the story as we receive them.
Update 11:26 a.m.: Sgt Kusmiss from the Berkeley police reports that a gun was found in 2200 block of Haste wrapped in a jacket.
Update 11:53 a.m.: BUSD spokesperson Mark Coplan reports that Principal Scuderi made an announcement over the school intercom to the students and staff about the gun incident. He will be sending an email to the school community but, like much of the rest of Berkeley, BHS has a power outage and the email might therefore be delayed.
Update 13:00: The two students involved in this incident are aged 15 and 16 and both attend Berkeley High School, according to Sgt. Kusmiss. They will be charged, probably with possession of a firearm on school property, which is a felony, and taken to Juvenile Hall.
