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News Wrap: Gunman kills 2 at Southern California high school

In our news wrap Thursday, a gunman opened fire on a Southern California high school, killing at least two students and wounding three others. The 16-year-old suspect shot himself and is in grave condition. Also, in the Middle East, a cease-fire ended two days of Israeli airstrikes and rocket attacks by Islamic Jihad, militants backed by Iran. In all, 34 Palestinians died during the fighting.

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Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

  • Judy Woodruff:

    In the day's other news: A gunman killed two students and wounded three at a Southern California high school, and then shot himself.

    It happened at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, outside Los Angeles.

    Investigators said the suspect was also a student, who had just turned 16 today.

  • Capt. Kent Wegner:

    Detectives have reviewed the video at the scene, which clearly show the subject in the quad withdraw a handgun from his backpack, shoot and wound five people, and then shoot himself in the head.

    There are no other subjects who are outstanding as part of this incident or who took part in this assault.

  • Judy Woodruff:

    The alleged shooter was in grave condition this evening. Officials said they are working to piece together a motive.

    In the Middle East, a cease-fire ended two days of Israeli airstrikes and rocket attacks by Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian militants backed by Iran. With the calm came mourning in Gaza, where hundreds attended the funeral of eight family members killed in a single airstrike. In all, 34 Palestinians died during the fighting. Israel triggered the exchange by killing the group's top Gaza commander.

    And in Iraq, new bloodshed in Baghdad. Security forces shot and killed four more anti-government protesters and wounded more than 60 today. Demonstrators fled from live fire and tear gas and carried the wounded away. But they also called for a million people to turn out tomorrow. At least 320 people have been killed in Iraq since the protests broke out last month.

    Protesters in Hong Kong paralyzed the city for a fourth straight day. Hundreds marched along the central business area, using emptied trash bins to cut off traffic. Meanwhile, students built barricades. Police said those at Chinese University of Hong Kong are — quote — "a step closer to terrorism."

  • John Tse Chun-Chung:

    The school has been used as a weapon factory and an arsenal with all kinds of offensive weapons, like bows and arrows and catapults. It is also evident that it has become a manufacturing base for petrol bombs.

  • Judy Woodruff:

    Chinese President's Xi Jinping called today for severely punishing those he termed violent criminals.

    Back in this country, President Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court today to block a subpoena for his income tax returns. State prosecutors in New York are seeking the returns from the president's accountants. Today's filing asks the high court to decide the case by next June.

    A State Department report says Trump administration officials removed an Iran expert from her post over her Iranian background and her work in the Obama administration. The department's inspector general says Brian Hook, who is the special representative on Iran, made the reassignment. Hook says that he didn't consider any improper factors.

    Kentucky's Republican Governor Matt Bevin conceded defeat today to his Democratic opponent. It came after officials double-checked last week's election tallies. Bevin still trailed Attorney General ®MDNM¯Andy Beshear by more than 5,000 votes, and he said today he would accept the result.

  • Gov. Matt Bevin:

    We have already been working, our team with his team. Conversations have been had. And we will continue to, and I think we should continue to, expect to have a smooth transition. I wish Attorney General Beshear well as he transitions to his next role in this state. It's a big responsibility.

  • Judy Woodruff:

    Republicans won the other statewide races in Kentucky, but Bevin faced the fallout from various controversies that he had triggered.

    Former President Jimmy Carter is said to be recovering well after having surgery to relieve pressure from bleeding in his skull. His family minister says the 95-year-old Carter was up and walking at an Atlanta hospital yesterday, one day after the procedure. There is no word yet on when he will be released.

    On Wall Street today, not much change either way. The Dow Jones industrial average lost one point to close below 27782. The Nasdaq fell three points, and the S&P 500 added two.

    And scientists at the University of Washington want to hear from old dogs out there, 10,000 of them. They need data for the Dog Aging Project, the largest ever study of its kind. The results could shed new light on how dogs, and ultimately humans, grow old. Owners can nominate their pets online.

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