US school shooting victims ‘knew each other’ say police

The shooting of two 15-year-old girls at an Arizona high school was an apparent murder-suicide, police have said.

The incident at Independence High School in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, initially caused panic among parents who could not reach their children.

Police later announced that a suicide note was found at the shooting scene near the cafeteria area. They said the girls were each shot once and a weapon was found near the bodies.

"Information gathered by detectives reveal the two girls were very close friends (and) appeared to also be in a relationship," Glendale police spokeswoman Tracey Breeden said.

It is believed nobody at the school witnessed the shooting.

Ms Breeden said the girls’ names “will not be confirmed or released at this time by the police department due to their juvenile status”.

PA