Two young students, a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old boy, are in critical but stable condition following a school shooting at a small Christian grammar school in Northern California on Wednesday.
The suspect, who entered Feather River Adventist School near Oroville and opened fire, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
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School Shooting Timeline
Authorities received reports of an active shooter shortly after 1 p.m. at the school, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. A California Highway Patrol officer was the first to arrive, discovering the two injured children and the deceased suspect, with a handgun found nearby.
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Suspect’s Actions
Earlier in the day, the suspect had met with a school administrator under the pretense of discussing enrolling a student at the school. Sheriff Honea described the meeting as “cordial,” stating it raised no immediate concerns.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, the suspect began shooting.
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Investigation and Motive
The suspect’s identity has been confirmed, but authorities are still working to determine the motive. The sheriff’s office is investigating whether the school’s affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church played a role.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we sent an alert to law enforcement agencies throughout California, advising them of this shooting and the possible targeting of schools with similar religious affiliations,” Honea said.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation, examining the suspect’s background and actions leading up to the attack.
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Additional Details
The suspect arrived at the school via an Uber, and the driver has been interviewed by authorities.
“We’re working to reconstruct this individual’s activities today and in the past to understand why this tragedy occurred,” Honea said.
Feather River Adventist School has a small enrollment of 35 students, emphasizing a close-knit community deeply impacted by the shooting.
Community Response
The sheriff’s office has urged vigilance in protecting schools across the state, ensuring the safety of students and staff in light of the incident.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through Butte County, located approximately 65 miles north of Sacramento, as authorities continue to investigate and provide support to the affected families.
