INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Chaos erupted at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology on April 16 when gunfire tore through a quiet office, leaving two women critically wounded. The small technical school, tucked in the 8900 block of Aviation Boulevard, became a crime scene as police swarmed the campus, hunting for a shooter who’d vanished into the afternoon.
The victims, both female employees, were rushed to a Long Beach trauma center, fighting for their lives. Authorities say the bullets came from a man who once worked at the college—a former employee, possibly a security guard, who’d slipped into an office and opened fire. The attack, described by Inglewood’s mayor as “workplace violence,” unfolded with chilling precision in a single room, sparing the rest of the campus but shattering its sense of safety.
By evening, the suspect was in cuffs. Police tracked him to Koreatown, where Los Angeles officers made the arrest. Initial reports suggested he’d barricaded himself on campus before fleeing, dressed in what looked like a security uniform, maybe even toting a rifle. Witnesses, rattled, described hearing shots ring out while they scrambled for cover. One instructor, eating lunch nearby, mistook the gunfire for street noise, only realizing the horror when panic set in.
Spartan College, a hub for 500 students training in aviation maintenance, sits just a mile from LAX. Its programs churn out skilled technicians, but on April 16, the focus shifted from classrooms to crisis. The Los Angeles County Fire Department logged the call around mid-afternoon, dispatching medics to a scene of shock and blood. Law enforcement locked down the area, combing buildings for threats as students and staff huddled, waiting for answers.
The arrested man’s identity remains under wraps, pending charges. Police haven’t confirmed if he’s the shooter, but the mayor’s office is confident they’ve got their guy. The investigation continues, with detectives piecing together motives and timelines. For now, the campus is quiet again, but the scars of April 16 won’t fade soon.
Two women remain hospitalized in critical condition. The suspect is in custody. The shooting occurred inside an office at Spartan College.