Two students were injured in a school shooting in Northern California, and authorities announced Wednesday afternoon that the suspected gunman has died. The injured students are 5 and 6 years old, according to NBC affiliate KCRA in Sacramento. Butte County Sheriff Cory Honea told reporters Wednesday that the students were being treated for their injuries.
The shooting occurred at the Seventh-day Adventist Feather River School in Oroville, a city of 20,000 people in the northernmost tip of the state. honea told the media Around 1 p.m., his office began receiving calls from schools saying someone on campus had fired shots at students, he said. Police responded immediately and found a man dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Honea said.
Two injured students were taken to the hospital, and one was transported by helicopter. The sheriff said authorities are conducting a “potential identification” of the shooter and do not immediately believe he is connected to the school, which has been open since 1965 and serves about 35 students. .
Honea said authorities are still in the early stages of the investigation and there are many unknowns. The bureau plans to consult with the FBI.
According to KCRA reporter Lize Mitri, the gunman visited the campus to discuss student admissions. After that meeting, gunshots and screams rang out. Investigators have hinted that the gunman may have arrived on campus using a carpool service and may have targeted the school due to its affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Buses arrived at the school Wednesday afternoon to transport students and reunite them with their parents. Honea said pastors and crisis counselors will be able to help those affected.
Oroville was the scene of a high-profile mass shooting in 2022. A man opened fire on a Greyhound bus bound for Los Angeles, killing a 43-year-old woman traveling with her two children and injuring four others, including a pregnant woman. .
The region has repeatedly attracted national attention in recent years, largely due to highly destructive and often deadly wildfires, such as the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people, Honea said. made the gesture in remarks to reporters outside Feather River School.
“This is another tragedy in our community,” he said. said. “I hope people can understand how difficult a situation this is for all of our students, staff, members of this community, and first responders at this school.”
