High School Shooting Near Seattle Leaves 2 Dead, Including Gunman. 4 Critically Wounded (Video)

Video After The Jump

MARYSVILLE, Wash. - A student opened fire Friday morning at Marysville Pilchuck High School, killing one student and critically injuring at least four others before fatally shooting himself, police and witnesses said.

Squadrons of police cars swarmed to the school at about 10:45 a.m. after receiving reports of an active shooter opening fire.

The shooter, a student at the school, fired several shots at other students in the school cafeteria. Five students were hit by the gunfire, and one of them was killed. The four others were severely injured. The shooter then turned the gun on himself.

"We are confident there is only one shooter and the shooter is deceased," said Marysville Police Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux in a noon briefing.

A spokeswoman at Providence Hospital in Everett said four young victims were transported there after the shootings. Three of them are in very critical condition with head wounds and are undergoing surgery. The fourth student is in critical but stable condition, and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

One student, Alex, said she was in the cafeteria when the shooting started.

"I was eating and I hear four gunshots," she said. "So I look behind me and I saw a gun pointing at this one kid who I knew. ... As soon as everyone saw the gun or heard the gunshots, they ran toward the wall. Some kids ran out the exit that I ran out of."

Alex said she estimated about 50 to 60 students were in the cafeteria at the time. "I ran first for the wall, and then I thought, 'I'm not staying in here.' So I ran out and called my mom."

Police said they do not know the shooter's motive.

At least 20 police cars and multiple ambulances responded to the shootings.

Students were evacuated from the school and taken by bus to a church at 51st Avenue and Grove Street.

"We do ask parents to stay away (from the school), it's an active situation," Lamoureux said. "We need to make it safe and secure. Please don't go to the campus, that makes it difficult for our officers."