SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – A man’s body was discovered at an elementary school in California Wednesday morning, according to law enforcement officials.
A homicide investigation is underway by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after the body was discovered at Charles Helmers Elementary School in Santa Clarita just before 7 a.m., FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.
While patrol deputies secured the location toward the “back part” of the school, homicide detectives were on the way to the crime scene.
According to KTLA, the body was discovered on a basketball court at Northbridge Park on Grandview Drive, which is adjacent to the elementary school.
No further details were immediately available as investigators begin their work.
UPDATE: Aerial video from the KTLA News helicopter, Sky5, showed a body under a white sheet with a rifle nearby.
LASD confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. However, further details remained unavailable.
A resident who lives near the school said she heard a loud noise, like fireworks or a gunshot, early Wednesday morning.
Classes at the elementary school were not impacted by the crime scene investigation, according to Colleen Hawkins, Superintendent of the Saugus Union School District.
“School and District officials have been in communication with local law enforcement leadership upon notification of the incident and have been assured that it is unrelated to the school,” Hawkins said in a statement. “There is major construction on the Helmers campus at this time and the park area involved is completely blocked from the school because of that construction. School is in session and staff are monitoring student activities appropriately.”
