A gunman shot and critically wounded two young boys, aged 5 and 6, at a California school on Wednesday before taking his own life in what authorities believe was a targeted attack linked to the school’s ties to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, located in a rural area near Oroville, about 55 miles north of Sacramento. The gunman had initially scheduled a meeting with a school administrator to discuss enrolling a student. Following the seemingly cordial discussion, he opened fire on students outside a classroom before turning the gun on himself, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said.
The wounded boys were rushed to a trauma center in extremely critical condition. “I’m thankful they are still alive, but they have a long road ahead of them,” Honea said during a press conference.
A California Highway Patrol officer responding to the scene found the gunman dead with the handgun nearby. The school’s remaining 35 students were evacuated and reunited with their families at a nearby church. Officials believe the school was targeted due to its affiliation with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, a Christian denomination known for its Saturday observance and vegetarian advocacy. Authorities issued statewide alerts to other affiliated schools.
Also read: Montana Lawmakers Reject Ban on Transgender Legislator’s Restroom Access
