The first shots are muffled, slight pops, like firecrackers, several students say. At first nobody knows what they are, but as people start falling, as a food cart is shot up, as blood flows onto the ground, it is apparent.
Hopkins looks as his friend Edwards is shot. Then he looks across the quad and sees Williams, grinning wildly, with the gun.
The assailant returns to the bathroom.
"People were tripping over tree trunks, throwing backpacks and screaming, running. There were a lot of 'Oh my Gods.' People were running all over the place like when you drop water on ants. That is what it looked like . . . ants," Noble says.
* 9:22 a.m.: The first call to 911.
* 9:30 a.m.: San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Ali Perez and his partner, Pat Burns, respond. Nervous students point them toward the restroom in the 200 Building. Off-duty San Diego Police Officer Robert Clark, on campus to enroll his daughter, is already there.
They enter the boys restroom. Williams is kneeling with the gun raised over his head but pointed to the side. They confront him and demand he drop the gun. They repeat the demand several times.
Williams complies.
Perez tackles Williams and yells for his partners to check the stalls for accomplices.
Williams tells Perez: "It's only me."
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
How the Shooting Happened
At first, students didn't realize that what sounded like firecrackers was really gunfire. Authorities gave this account of events:
*
Charles Andrew Williams, 15, shoots two students in bathroom.
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Williams exits, fires indiscriminately into courtyard, wounding 13, then retreats into bathroom.
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Williams surrenders to police in bathroom. Students remain locked in classrooms during shooting.
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Police evacuate students and faculty to nearby shopping center.
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SWAT units take up positions on athletic fields.
*
Sources: Staff reports, Santana High School Web site.
Graphics reporting by BRADY MacDONALD and MIKE FANEUFF/ Los Angeles Times
