The past month has seen the Santa Clarita community unite together to both mourn the loss of young lives and to encourage one another in the wake of the Saugus High Shooting.

November 14, 2019

On the morning of Nov. 14, 2019, the landscape of the Santa Clarita community was “forever changed” when 16-year-old Nathaniel Berhow walked into the quad of Saugus High School, pulled a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun from his backpack, and opened fire, according to Sheriff’s officials.

“The weapon that he used was recovered at the scene. It’s a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, which had no more rounds in it,” Capt. Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau said during a press conference that day.

Photo by Michael Brown/KHTS News.

Two students, 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger and 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell, were killed as a result of the shooting. Three other students were injured before Berhow turned the gun on himself, resulting in his death the next day.

“His mother was present at the time of his passing,” a statement issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the time reads.

A week after the shooting, investigators determined that the .45 caliber pistol used was a kit gun, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

“The weapon used in the homicide was a kit gun, it was assembled from parts and had no serial number,” Villanueva said in a press conference at the time.

Photo by Michael Brown/KHTS News.

The exact motive behind the Saugus High shooting is still unclear.

Gracie and Dominic

The next day, GoFundMe pages had been set up by the Blackwell and Muehlberger families. As of Dec. 14, each had raised over $110,000.

Gracie’s page said that the family’s mission is to “find a way to memorialize our baby girl, Gracie Anne Muehlberger.” 

“It is with the most unexplainable brokenness that we share our Gracie went to be with Jesus on Thursday morning,” reads the GoFundMe page. “Our vivacious, funny, loyal, light of our lives, Cinderella, the daughter we always dreamed to have, fiercely strong and lover of all things fashionable, was our best friend. She is going to be missed more than words will ever be able to express.”

Gracie’s brother, Riley, who recently graduated from Saugus High School himself, shared how his sister’s humor was his favorite part about her during the Saugus Strong vigil on Nov. 16.

“(She) would always be able to put a smile on my face, and that’s one of the many things I’ll miss the most,” he said. “Thank you for being the best sister ever. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

https://www.facebook.com/austindave/videos/2430324280629191/

Less than two weeks after the shooting, a celebration of life was held for Gracie at Real Life Church in Valencia.

“We have what feels like a hole, or emptiness in our chest,” Bryan Muehlberger, Gracie’s father, said at the time. “We keep asking why, but the answer isn’t here yet.”

Bryan shared a variety of his favorite memories with Gracie, from dancing with her to going on family vacations.

“She was able to make a larger impact on more people and more communities than most of us will do in a lifetime,” he said.

Gracie’s GoFundMe can be found here. 

Dominic’s GoFundMe had been set up by his grandparents, Pam and Gene Hall

“This world lost a bright, shining light… personified by a goofy laugh, cheesy smile and a huge, caring heart. He was taken from his family and friends in the most senseless of ways,” the page reads.

Dominic left behind three brothers who “miss their big brother greatly,” the page reads. 

“His parents’ dreams for him will never be realized. Dominic’s family needs this time to pull together and mourn this unexpected loss,” the GoFundMe page reads. 

https://www.facebook.com/austindave/videos/2762641730481979/

On the same weekend as Gracie’s celebration of life, a similar memorial was held for Dominic.

“A senseless act of violence extinguished the lives of two beautiful young people,” Hall said at the service. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Gracie Muehlberger as they mourn the loss of their dear Cinderella.”

Hall described his grandson as “a kid with an infectious laugh, a bright smile and a kind heart.”

“A lot will be said, proposed, and done in the coming weeks and months regarding the issues that were raised by this tragedy. But that’s not why we’re here today,” Hall said at the time. “We’re here to commemorate the life of our son, our big brother, our grandson, our nephew, our friend.”

Dominic’s GoFundMe can be found here.

A Community United

In the wake of the sudden tragedy, the Santa Clarita community came together in a way that may say they had “never seen before.”

“There is a pride and spirit in Santa Clarita that is very special,” then-Mayor Marsha McLean said during the Saugus Strong vigil. “Saugus, you have a fabulous school with fabulous spirit and pride, and I know that you will not let anything take that away from you.”

On the day of the shooting, support resources were open to students and community members at the The Activities Center on Centre Pointe Pky. The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center also opened their support groups to those affected. Elevate Church also had a therapist and psychologist available in aid, the very same day.

Across the valley, several separate vigils were held to honor those who died and lift up those who had survived. Grace Baptist Church, Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple in Valencia and others held their own respective vigils.

The City of Santa Clarita stepped in and hosted the Saugus Strong vigil at Central Park on the Sunday after the shooting. Over 10,000 people are estimated to have attended the event.

“In the face of unspeakable violence, we have united to care for each other and to begin the slow process of healing, knowing that none of us will really ever be the same again,” Vicki Engbrecht, superintendent for the William S Hart Union High School District, said at the time.

The #SaugusStrong logo began to be displayed all over the valley, from the marquees on Santa Clarita public transit buses, to various billboards and signs posted throughout the city, to shirts, sweatshirts, and hats worn by thousands of residents.

Dozens of celebrities from the entertainment industry have sent words of encouragement to the students of Saugus High School, including the likes of Will Ferrell and Elizabeth Olsen.

“We are thinking about you guys,” Will Ferrell said in his video. “We are pulling for you guys, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised through the Santa Clarita Coalition by various organizations and individuals throughout the valley, with all of the money raised through the Coalition set to go to the families of the victims.

Students at Saugus High returned back to classes on Dec. 2, less than two weeks after the shooting.

“As we enter our campus today, we know that things will not be the same as when we stepped on, and likely in the future it will never be the same,” Tyler Nilson, executive vice president for the Saugus High Associated Student Body (ASB), said at a press conference that day. “This is not an issue that will be overcome in days, weeks or even months.”

Saugus High School ASB Executive Vice President Tyler Wilson expresses his gratitude for the “outpouring of love” from the community. Photo by Michael Brown/KHTS News.

The Road Ahead

As students returned to the campus for classes, a number of support systems had been put in place to help students “return to a normal routine,” according to Mike Kuhlman, deputy superintendent for the district

Those support systems in place included: an expanded law enforcement presence; an additional assistant principal; several additional campus supervisors; 15 counselors from the Department of Mental Health; therapy dogs; and 10 additional substitute teachers to support the teaching staff on campus.

“A lot of us are dealing with problems and issues inside of us that we never thought we’d have to deal with in our entire lives,” Andrei Mojica, Saugus High senior and president of the school’s ASB, said at a press conference that day . “I know we’ll get through it, as long as we take the time to take care of ourselves and to take care of each other.”

The support systems were put in place with the guidance of Dr. David Schonfeld, who serves as a Children’s Hospital developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, in order to supplement the 50 therapists that had already been permanently assigned to schools throughout the district prior to the shooting, according to Kuhlman.

“We know that it’s not enough,” Kuhlman said. “But it’s a start.”

Newly-selected city mayor Cameron Smyth used his first address as mayor to discuss how the coming year would continue the healing that started during the past month.

“2020 will be a year of healing,” he said at. “I know I can speak for the council when we say that we will individually, collectively, as a city, do whatever we can, play whatever role is necessary to help with that healing.”

To donate to victims of the Saugus High shooting, click here.

Part of the large memorial set up outside of the entrance to Saugus High School. Photo by Jonathan Stratton/KHTS News.

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