2 In Custody After Student, Teacher Shot Near Van Nuys Charter Campus

A shooting near a Van Nuys charter school Thursday afternoon left a female teacher and a male student wounded, according to Los Angeles police. Two people are in custody and a gun has been recovered at the scene, authorities said.

The shooting happened near the campus of CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts in Van Nuys, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Lance Montgomery said at a news conference.

Jordan Duke, the school's communications director, told KPCC the female victim is a special education teacher. Both she and the student are in stable condition.

The school, located on the 6800 block of Van Nuys Boulevard just north of Vanowen Street, was placed on lockdown through the end of the school day.

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Students were released and reunited with parents starting at about 3:30 p.m.

Destiny Fuentes was among those waiting outside. She said her sister, an 11th grader, had texted her that the student who was wounded was shot in the leg.

Cece Tsou, whose son attends the school, said he was also friends with the student who was shot. She said her son texted her from inside.

"He said there's a lockdown because of a shooter. And of course that's when I fell apart," Tsou said. "Immediately, I'm like, 'Well, can you give me more details, because that's really scary!'"

Tsou said she had bought her son a bulletproof backpack on Amazon after a recent shooting in Florida, and she told him to stay behind it.

"This is our biggest fear right now, is this. It's the biggest, biggest fear," Tsou said.

Both men in custody were described as Latino and about 18-20 years old, Montgomery said.

Deputy Chief Trevor Richmond of the L.A. Fire Department said both shooting victims were shot in their extremities. Both are in stable condition.

UPDATES:

2:25 p.m.: Updated with a tweet from our reporter on the scene and information about extent of victims' injuries.

2:40 p.m.: Updated with information about reunification plan for parents and students.

3:19 p.m.: Updated with second person in custody.

3:32 p.m.: Updated with comments from parent Cece Tsou.

3:41 p.m.: Updated with details from Destiny Fuentes.

4:26 p.m.: Updated with students being released.

6:52 p.m.: Updated with information from school communications director.

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