Police said the shooting happened after classes let out Friday at the Sacramento campus.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A student was shot and killed Friday afternoon at Natomas High School, and Sacramento police said they were searching for another student believed to be the gunman after the campus was locked down during the response.
Authorities said officers were called just after 3:30 p.m. to the school in the 3200 block of Truxel Road. By Friday night, police said the victim had died and the suspected shooter, described as a current Natomas High student, had not been taken into custody. The killing rattled families at dismissal time, shut down normal campus activity and set off a large police search in the surrounding neighborhood.
Sacramento police spokesperson Anthony Gamble said the shooting happened in an open area of the campus as the school day was ending. He said the person who was killed was a juvenile and a student at another nearby school. Natomas Unified later told families the victim was a former Natomas High student who was enrolled at another local high school. Police did not publicly identify either student Friday night, and they did not say how many shots were fired or what kind of firearm was used. Gamble said the case weighed heavily on officers and school staff as investigators worked to secure the scene and interview witnesses before students and families were allowed to fully leave the area.
As investigators spread out across South Natomas, officers were also seen at the Natomas Village apartment complex across from the school. Television footage and local officials described a broad law enforcement presence there, including officers moving through the complex while the search continued. Police said the suspected gunman remained at large hours after the shooting. A motive had not been released by late Friday, and authorities did not say whether the suspect and victim knew each other before the attack. The district told families that law enforcement had described the shooting as an intentional act and said it appeared to be isolated, but many key details remained unresolved, including how the weapon got onto or near campus and whether anyone else may face scrutiny as the investigation moves forward.
The shooting struck a school community already navigating the pressure that follows any act of campus violence: reunifying families, answering questions from frightened students and restoring a sense of safety before the next school day. Natomas High sits near the intersection of Truxel and San Juan roads in a busy part of the neighborhood, making the police response visible to students, parents and nearby residents. City Councilmember Karina Talamantes, who represents the area, said the shooting happened after school was out for the day. By Friday evening, district leaders were preparing support services while police continued the manhunt. The timing deepened the shock, with students leaving campus and families expecting an ordinary end to the week when the gunfire instead turned the school into an active crime scene.
District officials said counselors and school psychologists would be made available to students and staff in the aftermath. Natomas Unified also said it canceled a multicultural festival planned for Saturday and would increase the safety presence on campuses. School board member Micah Grant called the killing a “horrific tragedy” and said the district had mobilized support teams to help children, employees and families. State Sen. Angelique Ashby said her office would cooperate with police, fire officials and the district as the investigation continued. No arrest had been announced Friday night, and police had not said when they expected to hold a more detailed briefing. It also was not clear by then whether classes or activities would be changed further beyond the festival cancellation and the added security measures already announced.
Even with many facts still missing, the emotional toll was already clear. The district said its heart was with the victim’s family, friends and the wider school community, calling Natomas a close-knit place where violence like this ripples well beyond one campus. Local leaders echoed that message as officers remained visible around the school and nearby apartments. For families, the most immediate questions were basic and painful: who had been killed, where the suspect had gone and when the campus would begin to feel normal again. For investigators, the work remained focused on tracking the suspected shooter, sorting witness accounts and building a timeline of what happened in the final minutes of the school day.
The case remained unresolved late Friday, with the suspect still being sought and police continuing to investigate. The next major milestone was expected to be a public update from Sacramento police and school officials as the district reopened support services and increased campus security.
Author note: Last updated April 12, 2026.