Novato High closes after fatal shooting, stabbing

The two victims of a shooting and stabbing in Novato on Wednesday evening were Novato High School students, prompting the closure of the school Thursday, Novato Union School District and Marin County sheriff’s officials said.

One student was fatally shot while another is in stable condition at a hospital after being shot and stabbed, sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Doug Pittman said at a news conference at the high school this morning.

The incident was reported around 5:30 p.m. at the end of Fairway Drive, miles away from the school. Deputies responded and located the victim who had been shot and stabbed.

UPDATE 9:29 p.m. Suspects in custody after Novato student slain.

A second shooting victim was found nearby and was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the victim who died is not yet being released.

The victim who survived had called 911 and identified three male suspects. Pittman did not immediately release any information about the suspects but said he anticipates being able to say more this afternoon.

He said investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting and stabbing.

It was “an incident involving a small number of people” and “there is no further threat to the community at this point,” Pittman said.

School district superintendent Jim Hogeboom said that after learning about the case, the decision was made by the district to close the school, located at 625 Arthur St., for the day. All other schools in the district remain open.

Novato High School students already were scheduled to be off Friday for a professional development day and on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday, so will return to campus Tuesday, Hogeboom said.

He said the district is “deeply saddened by the tragic shooting” and it’s “an incredibly tough time for our community.” Pittman noted that Novato “is not a large city” and “when something like this happens, it impacts everybody.”