PALERMO, Calif. — On Wednesday, two young boys were reported to be in “extremely critical condition” after a shooting incident at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California. The alleged shooter died at the scene, believed to have taken his own life, according to law enforcement authorities.
The Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, where the shooting took place, may have been a target due to its religious significance. However, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea indicated there was no previous relationship between the assailant and the school or its victims. Further details were not disclosed regarding the shooter’s motives.
Sheriff Honea mentioned, “Whether or not this is a hate crime or part of a larger scheme, I don’t have sufficient information to provide an answer to that at this time.” The injured boys, aged 5 and 6, are kindergarten students and are currently receiving treatment at a trauma facility located in the Sacramento region. “I am thankful that they’re still alive, but they’ve got a long road ahead of them,” the sheriff stated.
The tragic incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. at the private Christian school, which has an enrollment of fewer than thirty students. Palermo, home to about 5,500 residents, is approximately 65 miles north of Sacramento. This shooting marks the latest in a tragic pattern of school shootings that have plagued the United States, prompting intense discussions on gun control and raising concerns among parents whose children participate in active shooter drills at school.
According to data from a nonprofit organization focused on healthcare issues, firearms were the leading cause of death among children in both 2020 and 2021. Sheriff Honea revealed that the shooter had been dropped off by an Uber driver, who is now being questioned by investigators.
The shooter had come to the school to discuss enrolling a child during a meeting he described as “cordial.” This interaction was reportedly the first visit by the shooter to the school, and he had no known connection to the victims before the shooting began. Shortly after the meeting, the sound of gunfire erupted.
Law enforcement found the shooter deceased near playground equipment, with a handgun located nearby. Authorities are currently in the process of reaching out to the gunman’s family before publicly disclosing his identity.
Laurie Trujillo, a representative of the Northern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, expressed in a statement their deep sorrow over the day’s tragic events, expressing gratitude to the sheriff’s office for their prompt actions to safeguard the students.
The Feather River School, established in 1965, is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, a Christian denomination that esteems the Bible and anticipates the imminent second coming of Christ.
Following the incident, students were initially gathered in a gymnasium for safety until buses arrived to escort them to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, where they were reunited with their families. Travis Marshall, senior pastor of the church, described the emotional reunifications as truly moving.
He shared, “Some of the children were incredibly emotional. One woman was raising her hands up, praising the Lord” upon finding her child.
Sixth grader Jocelyn Orlando recounted her experience to CBS News Sacramento, stating, “We were going in for lunch recess, and basically everybody in my classroom heard shooting, and most people were screaming. We all went into the office, closed the curtains, locked the doors, and did what we would do in a school shooting scenario, and then one of the teachers came, and we all ran into the gym.”
Assemblyman James Gallagher, representing the area that includes Palermo, expressed his grief in a statement, saying, “My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy.” He added, “As a community, we’ll all be hugging our loved ones closer today as we pray for the victims and struggle to make sense of this senseless act.”