Sheriff: Teen planned shooting, claims to have been bullied

TAFT, Calif. (AP) — A sheriff says a 16-year-old student who critically wounded a classmate with a shotgun told investigators he had been bullied by the victim and another student that was targeted.

The shooting happened in Taft, Calif., about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told reporters the suspect used his brother's shotgun and came to the school with ammunition stuffed in his pockets. The teen is said to be seen on surveillance video attempting to hide the weapon in his clothing as he entered a side entrance at Taft Union High School.

Youngblood says the shooting ended because of the heroics of a teacher and a staffer who talked the teen into putting down the weapon after he wounded the student and shot at others. Students who know the suspect say he is small for his age and had been bullied repeatedly.

The wounded student was flown to a hospital in Bakersfield and was listed in stable but critical condition.