A Bright Light in Santa Clarita
Early that day in November 2019, folks in Santa Clarita, CA woke up to heartbreak – something no one saw coming. At Saugus High, a deadly incident tore through the quiet, altering so many paths at once. One soul lost too soon was Dominic Michael Blackwell, just fourteen, starting ninth grade; his grin could light up any room. People close to him still feel his warmth – the way he treated others stuck with them long after.
Dominic wasn’t only someone who went to school – he also meant something real to others, like family or kin. Around people who knew him best, you could feel his spark, that drive, mixed with kindness too – stuff most folks don’t forget easily. Half a decade gone now, yet what he left behind still pushes us toward courage, tighter circles, and brighter days ahead.
Early Life and Family
Growing up in Santa Clarita, Dominic Blackwell was the first kid out of four in his family. His mom and dad, Frank and Nancy, kept things warm at home – built on trust, belief, and little rituals. Saturdays? He’d tag along with his mama during her outreach rounds; she followed the Jehovah’s Witness path, sharing it block by block – and those hours stuck with him hard.
When Gene Hall remembered him at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita, he said Dominic had spark – smart, warm, easy to like. Still, what really stood out was how funny he could be
along with a one-of-a-kind vibe.
Dominic cracked jokes with a wink, while pulling off goofy stunts that lit up any room. Still, nobody could miss how different he really was beneath it all. His energy spread fast, almost like wildfire, thanks to a grin that meant every word without saying a thing – pure fire inside, always burning.
Faith and Character
Dominic lived by what he believed, no act too small. His granddad once said he stuck by his values while always wanting to share them. Not just in family scripture talks but also when talking with folks next door, kindness and dignity stayed close to how he acted
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People who were close to him always mentioned how he could laugh at tiny stuff while still lifting spirits when times got rough. His grandma used to say he was her “shadow,” one aunt teased that he was her “little goober,” yet another named him her “tiny peanut” with a smile. Every silly name showed just how much warmth he brought into people’s lives.
Student Life and Leadership
Being the child of someone who served in the military, Dominic picked up strong habits and a quiet confidence. Over at Saugus High, he joined the youth leadership group tied to the armed forces. People around him – classmates or teachers – still remember how his loud laugh stood out even during tough exercises.
Fellow cadet Joshua Mourthi once said, “He had a hard time standing at attention because he couldn’t stop smiling.”
This easygoing attitude didn’t weaken his dedication – instead, it made it stronger. Dominic showed what a new-generation leader could look like by connecting people with warmth, someone who boosted morale when folks felt drained.
The Tragedy at Saugus High School
Early that day, November 14, 2019, everything went wrong. Around the school yard, right before lessons started, a teenager, only sixteen, took out a gun. In no time flat, two kids lost their lives: Dominic Blackwell and Gracie Anne Muehlberger. Meanwhile, three more got hurt somehow.
The gunman, named Nathaniel Berhow, shot himself afterward. The L.A. County sheriff says the whole thing took under twenty seconds – though it changed everything for people nearby.
Off-duty cops Dan Finn and Sean Yanez showed up early at the scene. Once inside, they came across Dominic and Gracie – both badly hurt – and tried every move to keep them alive. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, paramedics sped Dominic to a medical center; still, he didn’t make it.
The Saugus Strong spirit showed up right after – people in the Santa Clarita Valley standing together, refusing to back down. Folks came by the thousands to Central Park, lighting candles, tying on blue ribbons, while remembering the kids they’d lost.
A Community in Mourning
The wave of sorrow plus unity felt overwhelming. Over 700 showed up for Dominic’s gathering at the Hyatt Regency, where pals, mentors, and relatives told tales about his kindness, along with his laugh.
One big painting showed Dominic crouched in a red flowered meadow – the next had him resting by a timber railing, wearing a vivid sky-colored top. Each piece froze his relaxed grin, that hopeful spark, along with a quiet kindness.
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At his tribute, Gene Hall talked through sadness and strength
The town kept showing support for the Blackwell and Muehlberger loved ones long after the awful event unfolded. Meanwhile, SaugusStrong popped up on shirts, car decals, or painted walls across Santa Clarita – proof that care sticks around no matter how dark things get.
Seeking Accountability
In 2020, Dominic’s mom and dad – Frank and Nancy Blackwell – joined by Bryan and Cindy Muehlberger, took legal action targeting the William S. Hart Union High School District, demanding $50 million because they believed the incident could’ve been seen coming – and stopped.
Court documents say the video revealed staff weren’t at their assigned spots the day of the incident. While one worker went off to refill snack machines, someone else was circling the area in a vehicle. On top of that, a door with no oversight let the attacker walk onto school grounds unnoticed, carrying a .45 pistol.
Records also revealed that the district had previously been aware of the shooter’s abusive family background and prior involvement with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), yet no counseling or intervention had occurred.
Lawyer Julie Fieber, speaking for the relatives, stressed the incident might’ve been prevented had steps been followed – using better choices back then.
Even though officials claimed they didn’t see the assault coming, grieving parents keep pushing – demanding answers and changes so others won’t suffer like they did.
Five Years Later: Honoring the Legacy
In June 2021, Santa Clarita put up two tall stone markers in Central Park – these honor Dominic Blackwell, along with Gracie Muehlberger.
This event, known as the Memorial Plaza Dedication, stood for remembering, recovering, and also enduring.
Half a decade on, folks still mark the sad day through gatherings, quiet pauses, or local get-togethers. Those classmates who shared lockers and chats with Dominic have moved on past graduation – yet his presence sticks close to Saugus High’s everyday life.
A buddy called Dominic “the one who’d stand by you no matter what,” whereas some folks recall his nonstop laugh bouncing across the courtyard.
The Saugus Students Demand Action group, inspired by victims like Dominic and Gracie, continues to advocate for gun violence prevention and improved school safety measures.
Music, creativity, or standing up for change – these things now heal folks in real ways. Back in 2022, a Saugus learner named Katie Rey dropped a track called “Peace,” made to guide people through pain after something awful happened. What she sang mirrored what locals kept saying: care sticks around, so does light, no matter how dark it gets.
Remembering Dominic
Dominic Blackwell was just 14 when his life ended, yet in that time, he touched many people’s hearts. Not only do his relatives keep his spirit alive, but so does the whole Santa Clarita area, where folks still remember him daily.
Life’s short, so live it loud, crack up often, yet still pour your soul into everything – like he once showed.
In the words of his grandfather, spoken at Dominic’s celebration of life:
Dominic’s spirit shows up in small good deeds, in grins passed between strangers, also in local actions taken for Saugus Strong. Even if he left way early, what he stood for – care and bravery – still sticks around, quietly proving when things get tough, affection wins over everything else.
Sources & Further Reading
Los Angeles Daily News – Memorial for Dominic Blackwell
Los Angeles Times – Parents File Lawsuit Over Shooting
The Signal – Five Years Later: Remembering Saugus High
William S. Hart Union High School District
Saugus Strong Initiative
