Police: Shooting at Phoenix-area school was a murder-suicide

Students embrace after leaving campus, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. after two teens were shot Friday at Independence High School in the Phoenix suburb. Two 15-year-old girls were shot once at the school, but it was not clear what led up to their deaths, Glendale Officer Tracey Breeden told reporters. Authorities were not looking for anyone else, and a gun was found near the bodies, she said. (AP Photo/Matt York) Students embrace after leaving campus, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. after two teens were shot Friday at Independence High School in the Phoenix suburb. Two 15-year-old girls were shot once at the school, but it was not clear what led up to their deaths, Glendale Officer Tracey Breeden told reporters. Authorities were not looking for anyone else, and a gun was found near the bodies, she said. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By Associated Press February 13, 2016 3 min read

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – A shooting at a suburban Phoenix high school that killed two 15-year-old girls and caused panic among parents was a murder-suicide, police said.

Police announced that a suicide note was found at the scene of the shooting Friday morning near the cafeteria area of Independence High School in Glendale. They said the girls each were shot once, were declared dead at the scene and a weapon was found near the bodies.

“Information gathered by detectives reveal the two girls were very close friends, appeared to also be in a relationship,” Glendale police spokeswoman Tracey Breeden said in a statement Friday afternoon.

It is believed nobody witnessed the shooting, Breeden said.

Both teens have been identified, but Breeden said “their names will not be confirmed or released at this time by the police department due to their juvenile status.”