Oroville, Calif., school shooting: 2 kindergarten students injured and one suspect dead, sheriff says

CNN
—

Two kindergarten students remain in extremely critical condition after they were injured in a shooting at a small Christian school north of Sacramento, authorities said Wednesday.

The boys, ages 5 and 6, were being treated at local hospitals, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at an evening news conference, hours after a gunman opened fire at Feather River Adventist School in Oroville.

The attack is another example of the scourge of gun violence on American campuses. At least 78 school shootings have been recorded in the United States so far this year. This recent school shooting in Northern California highlights that guns are the leading cause of death for children in the United States.

One student said she saw the gunman pacing through a window as she heard gunfire throughout the school.

“I looked back and saw a shadow with a gun, so I told most of the people to run even faster,” sixth-grader Jocelyn Orlando told CNN affiliate KCRA.

A suspect was found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Honea said. The man has been identified but cannot be named immediately due to an ongoing investigation supported by the FBI, he added.

Authorities received information that led them to believe the suspect targeted the school because of its affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Honea said.

The Seventh-day Adventist faith is part of the Protestant Christian denomination, whose followers believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God and believe in the second coming of Christ. Followers pray on Saturdays and promote a healthy lifestyle.

According to recent data, there are approximately 1.2 million Seventh-day Adventist members in the United States and Canada combined and nearly 22 million adherents worldwide.

There are more than 7,500 Seventh-day Adventist schools worldwide, serving more than 1.8 million students.

Earlier in the day, the suspect was dropped off by an Uber at the school, where he attended a meeting with a school administrator on campus, ostensibly to explore the possibility of enrolling a family member, the sheriff said.

No concerns have been raised at this time and authorities are working to determine whether the meeting was a ruse for the suspect to enter campus.

The Uber driver was identified and interviewed by investigators to find out what the shooter said during the ride, Honea said.

Jocelyn’s father expressed concern about the shooting and the safety of his children, who attend a private school, saying, “It is believed that this is the safest place a parent can send their child.”

Feather River Adventist School is a private school serving kindergarten through eighth grade. According to the sheriff’s office, the school has about 35 students enrolled.

Law enforcement agencies across the state have been asked to “be vigilant” and ensure schools affiliated with the church are safe, Honea added.

Investigators examined “the subject’s entire workup to gain a better understanding of his motivation and ideology.”

Calls to Feather River Adventist School about an active shooter came to authorities just after 1:08 p.m. Wednesday, Honea said.

Within two minutes, a state highway patrol officer arrived at the school, where a handgun was found near the suspected shooter’s body, he said.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived on campus a few minutes later and officers administered first aid to the two wounded students, Honea added.

After the scene was secured, the remaining students were taken by bus to a nearby church where they could reunite with their parents, the sheriff said.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said at the news conference that his office is supporting the students and their families.

A parent of a student said: “This is going to be weeks, months obviously,” he said. “Not just the children who were injured before, but also the children who saw their classmates shot in front of their eyes.”

In a statement, a communications director for the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“Join us as we lift these children and their families in prayer,” the statement said. “We are grateful for the brave officers of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly to protect our students.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the shooting “heartbreaking” in a post on X.

“Once again, a community is being rocked by senseless gun violence. Our thoughts are with the children, their families and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy. To survivors of gun violence: You are never alone. California stands with you,” the governor said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the type of school where the shooting occurred. It serves kindergarten through 8th grade.