As the Saugus High shooting rang out Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies worked to rapidly render aid to students injured at the school.

At 7:38 a.m. Thursday, dispatchers with the Sheriff’s Communication Center, along with Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station dispatcher, calmly worked together to get deputies to the scene of the shooting at Saugus High School.

Deputies heard over their radios: “Attention units in Saugus, a code three response is needed. 245 just occurred – 417. It’s going to be at Saugus High School, 21900 Centurion Way, shots fired, further to follow.”

When dispatchers put out calls, they use numeric codes to tell deputies how to respond, according to officials.

A code three means “lights and siren,” a 245 – 417, means “assault with a deadly weapon with a gun.”

Following the dispatchers’ broadcast, deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station rushed into Saugus High School not yet knowing if the reports of shots fired were true or false.

When the first deputy arrived, he let his responding deputies know that he was willing to enter the school alone if backup didn’t arrive quickly.

“If no one is here in 30 seconds, I’m going in,” the deputy voiced over the radio.

Immediately following his broadcast, multiple deputies arrived to aid their partner.

Within a minute and a half of being on scene, students told deputies where to go, and deputies put out a preliminary broadcast indicating that there was, in fact, a shooting, and they didn’t know where the shooter was.

“Multiple shots fired, possibly people down,” a deputy said. “Only suspect description is male adult wearing a black jacket.”

As deputies continued to coordinate their approach to the school, they were still receiving reports from dispatchers.

“All units stand by. There is going to be a student in room M 1304 that was hit in the abdomen,” the dispatcher said.

After deputies arrived at the main quad where the shooting took place, a gun was recovered, but deputies still did not know the suspect’s location.

“Ok break, confirming we have no active shooter, we only have victims down?” a sergeant asked.

“Hey Sarg, that’s what we’re trying to confirm right now. We have one 417 recovered, and need a witness to get a good ID,” a deputy answered.

A female deputy located the injured victim in the specified room and radioed all units confirming the student was hit.

“Break break break, I have one female gunshot victim in M 1304,” she said.

Once firefighters arrived, they worked together with Sheriff’s officials in locating the injured students and requested multiple additional units.

In total, 10 fire engines, seven paramedic squads and 24 ambulances responded to the school.

Because the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station helicopter is only available from 3 to 11 p.m., deputies urgently requested dispatchers to have any air support helicopter respond, whether from the Los Angeles Police Department or any surrounding agency.

A helicopter from Pasadena responded and assisted in the search for the suspect. After a search of the area, it was determined the scene was clear.

“Code 4” rang out from the radio, meaning there was no additional response needed.

The Saugus High shooting is still under active investigation.

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