At least two people were reported killed in a late-night shooting at a Northridge shopping center near California State University, Northridge, prompting a major police and paramedic response and an urgent investigation into what happened.
New details indicate the deadly Northridge shooting unfolded during a large gathering at University Plaza near the 18400 block of Nordhoff Street, close to California State University, Northridge.
Officers responded around 11 p.m. Friday and reportedly heard gunfire as they arrived. NBC Los Angeles reported, citing LAPD sources, that at least two people were shot and one person was stabbed. ABC7 later reported that at least two people had died.
The incident happened at an off-campus shopping center near CSUN, not on university property. The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine what triggered the violence.
Aerial footage showed dozens of police vehicles, fire trucks and paramedics surrounding the University Plaza area as emergency crews treated victims and officers secured the scene.
Numerous people at the gathering were seen detained in handcuffs during the police operation. Those detentions should not be interpreted as arrests: officers can temporarily detain witnesses and other people at a major crime scene while determining their involvement.
No arrest or confirmed motive had been announced in the latest reporting. Authorities also had not publicly identified the two people reported killed or established the complete number and conditions of other victims.
Investigators are continuing to determine who opened fire, what led to the shooting and whether anyone detained at the scene was connected to the violence. Details about a possible suspect circulating on social media remain unconfirmed unless verified by LAPD.
Police are investigating a shooting in Northridge on Friday night. https://t.co/E7pa1PiiTw
â NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) October 3, 2026
The shooting was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Friday, October 2, in the commercial area along Nordhoff Street near CSUN. ABC7 reported at least two deaths, while earlier reporting from KTLA said paramedics treated multiple victims for possible gunshot wounds.
The incident happened near the university rather than on the CSUN campus, an important distinction as students, families and nearby residents searched for reliable information during the fast-moving response.
At Least Two Killed in Northridge Shooting
ABC7 reported that at least two people were killed after gunfire erupted at a strip mall near Nordhoff Street and Reseda Boulevard.
Earlier reporting from KTLA said emergency crews were called to the University Plaza shopping center near Nordhoff Street and Darby Avenue shortly after 11 p.m. Paramedics treated multiple people for possible gunshot wounds, although their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
The slightly different location descriptions refer to the same general commercial area close to CSUN and underline how quickly information was developing during the first hours of the investigation.
Large Police Response Near CSUN
Dozens of police and paramedic units reportedly converged on the area as officers secured the shopping center and nearby streets.
KTLA’s Sky5 helicopter showed a heavy law-enforcement presence around the scene, while Patch reported that officers were responding to an initial active-shooter report and searching for a shooter and any additional victims.
That early active-shooter characterization should be treated cautiously. Initial emergency calls describe the information officers are responding to and do not necessarily establish how investigators will ultimately classify the incident.
Dozens Reportedly Detained During Police Operation
Patch, citing ABC7, reported that dozens of people were in handcuffs during the police response.
That does not necessarily mean dozens of people were arrested. Police may temporarily detain witnesses, bystanders or people found inside a secured area while determining what happened and whether anyone poses a threat.
Authorities had not publicly confirmed how many people, if any, were formally arrested in connection with the shooting during the early stages of the investigation.
Franklin High School Student Death in Highland Park: What We Know
Newcastle Knights Crowd Crash: 10 Injured, Two Critical in Wallsend
Suspect Information Remains Unconfirmed
Preliminary social-media reports circulated a possible description of a male wearing dark clothing and a black ski mask.
That description has not been established in the information publicly released by police and should not be treated as a confirmed description of the shooter.
Authorities had also not publicly announced a motive, identified a suspect or explained whether the person responsible remained at large.
Shooting Happened Near CSUN, Not Confirmed on Campus
The proximity to California State University, Northridge quickly raised concern among students and families, but available reporting places the shooting at a nearby shopping center rather than on university property.
Readers looking for official campus safety information can check CSUN’s emergency information page.
The distinction between an incident near a university and one occurring on campus is especially important during developing emergencies. A recent Towson University shelter-in-place response similarly showed how reports involving a firearm near a college community can generate widespread concern before authorities determine the exact location and level of danger.
Key Questions Investigators Are Working to Answer
Several important details remained unresolved early Saturday.
Authorities had not publicly identified the people killed, disclosed their ages or confirmed the total number of additional victims who may have been wounded.
Investigators also had not said what happened immediately before the shooting, whether the victims knew the shooter, whether more than one gunman was involved or what type of weapon was used.
No confirmed motive had been announced.
Surveillance Video and Witnesses Could Be Critical
Because the shooting occurred in a commercial area, investigators may have access to surveillance video from nearby businesses, parking areas and intersections.
Detectives are also expected to compare eyewitness accounts with physical evidence from the scene to establish where the shots were fired, how many weapons may have been involved and where anyone connected to the shooting went afterward.
The case follows other recent shootings around educational settings, including the Eden Prairie High School shooting during a homecoming football game, where two people were injured and a large emergency response followed.
Investigation Continues as Police Seek Answers
The next major developments are likely to come when investigators confirm the victims’ identities, the total number of people injured, whether a suspect has been identified or arrested and what detectives believe led to the shooting.
Until those details are released, claims circulating online about the shooter’s identity, motive or arrest status should be treated as preliminary. The clearest confirmed picture so far is that at least two people were reported killed in a late-night shooting at a Northridge shopping center near CSUN and the investigation remains active.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
