20-year-old killed in shooting near Banning High School; 19-year-old arrested
Update 6/1/23
Police confirmed a man was killed in the shooting and a 19-year-old suspect is in custody.
The victim was identified by police as Austin House, 20, of Cabazon. He suffered several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Charges have not been officially filed against the suspect yet, however, he is expected to be charged with first-degree murder and discharging a firearm in school zone.
Police said they were called to Banning High School at 5:30 p.m. for a shots fired call.
"School Resource Officers were already at the location monitoring the New Horizons Graduation Ceremony, at which time one of the officers on scene witnessed a male suspect wearing a white mask, black long sleeve shirt and grey pants shooting into a black sedan that was traveling eastbound on W. Westward Avenue, in front of the high school,"
- Banning Police Department (6/1/23)
The Sedan, driven by House, crashed into a pole. The suspect attempted to run from the location but was located in a garage after an extensive search.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.
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Original Report 5/31/23
Police responded earlier to reports of a shooting in front of Banning High School, where the Coombs Alternative Education class was holding its graduation ceremony.
Three police departments responded to the scene, Banning PD, Beaumont PD, and Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Police have yet to provide any official confirmation of what happened. However, News Channel 3 crews on the scene did confirm seeing the coroner and a forensics team on sight, along with several bullet casings on the road.
The reported shooting happened after the graduation ceremony for the Coombs Alternative Education.
Banning Unified School District put out the following statement:
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on the incident.
