Kelly Elementary School Shooting in Carlsbad: Two Children Shot

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A man was taken into custody Friday after firing shots on the campus of Kelly Elementary School in Carlsbad, Carlsbad police said.

Brendan L. O'Rourke, 41, was arrested on six counts of attempted murder and various weapons charges and was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on Saturday, according to Carlsbad police.

According to dispatchers, the shots were reported shortly before noon at Kelly Elementary School at Kelly and Hillside drives. A witness told that a man dressed in black with a handgun was seen jumping a fence onto school property.

Construction worker Carlos Partida told he witnessed the situation unfold. He said after the gunman opened fire at the playground, he got into his truck and was able to knock the gunman down with the vehicle. The man was then tackled by other construction workers and witnesses.

Partida told he has been working on a construction project in the neighborhood for the past three months. He said he knows many people from the school and that he did not recognize the man who walked on to the campus Friday.

"He was probably Caucasian, mid-30s. He was wearing a big jacket," said Partida.

When the man began firing, Partida said, "It was right there on the playground. I would say three classrooms full [of kids on the playground]."

Neighbor Scott Chandler assisted the construction workers in apprehending the man, believed to be in his 40s.

"One of the construction workers was able to jump on him, the other guy jumped on him. I came up and got the gun away from him. I'm screaming at him, 'What are you shooting at? 'Why are you shooting?' He took a pretty heavy pounding," Chandler said.

"We were able to get him down and get everybody safe around here," said Partida. "I can't really explain it … it's a crazy feeling. It happened; it's real."

A student at the school said that a handgun was recovered by authorities. The gun was later identified as a .357 Magnum handgun.

The school was placed on lockdown due to the incident, and parents were asked to pick up their children at nearby Laguna Riviera City Park, where the students were brought by staff members. Students were released to their families about 2 p.m.

A medical helicopter took two students with minor injuries to Rady Children's Hospital, Lt. Kelly Cain of the Carlsbad Police Department said. The two girls, ages 6 and 7, were grazed by bullets, Cain added. Police said they believe that the victims are in good condition and did not have an update on their discharge.

Third-grade student Shaylyn Foley was on the playground with her friend, Phoebe, and told what she saw.

"I saw him and he was across the street. Phoebe said, 'Who is he?' Then I'm like, 'Phoebe, he might not be a good man.' Then he put his hand out and then I heard the shot, and then I'm like, 'Phoebe, come on, this isn't OK.'"

Shaylyn and her friend ran away as the gunman fired.

"I got to the principal's office, and so I saw my teacher and then she told me, 'Come on, come here.' Then we went into the bathroom where we were safe and locked the door. We waited 30 minutes, and then my teacher, Miss Marks, peeked out and then she said, 'It's safe, we can come on out,'" said Shaylyn.

Authorities don't believe anyone else is involved in the incident, Cain said.

The bomb squad was called out to examine the car the suspected gunman is believed to have driven to the site. A propane tank was visible near the back of the vehicle but authorities did not consider it a bomb. Cain said that they are just being cautious.

The gunman also had been carrying a one-gallon gasoline can, according to the witness. In addition, his pockets were "full of" ammunition cartridges, along with a flashlight and other "electronic devices," witness Terry Lynn said.

"The guy came to do destruction," he said. "We were lucky."

Lynn said the assailant seemed "crazy."

"He was saying something about the president, and just ranting," he said. "He was obviously not coherent."

O'Rourke initially gave them several names, including that of a woman, and Cain said, "So that's kind of what we're dealing with on that end."

Police said O'Rourke, who was booked on six counts of attempted and murder and various weapons charges, may be a local transient. Cain said he "probably has mental health issues."

Officers took O'Rourke to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for an evaluation.

City trauma counselors and police and fire department chaplains went to the scene to help those traumatized by the attack.

Carlsbad Mayor Claude "Bud" Lewis offered "deep sympathy to all the children and families affected by today's shooting."

He said the Carlsbad Unified School District "handled the situation with the utmost sensitivity to its students and parents."

"I would also like to commend our local citizens for their heroic efforts to stop the shooter," Lewis said. "I am proud of the quick and thorough response of Carlsbad safety personnel and all of the other agencies (that) assisted throughout the incident."

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