A tragic shooting unfolded Wednesday at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, California, leaving two young boys critically wounded and the gunman dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victims, ages 5 and 6, are kindergarteners at the small religious K-8 school, which enrolls fewer than three dozen students. They were transported to a trauma center in Sacramento in “extremely critical condition,” according to Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea. “I am thankful that they’re still alive, but they’ve got a long road ahead of them,” Honea said.
Authorities are investigating whether the shooter targeted the school for its religious affiliation. However, Sheriff Honea stated there is no evidence that the gunman had any prior connection to the school or the victims. “Whether or not this is a hate crime or whether or not it’s part of some sort of larger scheme, at this point, I don’t have enough information to provide an answer to that,” Honea said.
The gunman reportedly arrived at the school via an Uber and met with an administrator about enrolling a child. The meeting was described as “cordial” and marked his first visit to the school. Shortly afterward, gunfire erupted. The shooter’s body was found near the playground, along with a handgun. His identity has not been released as authorities work to contact his family. Laurie Trujillo, a spokesperson for the Northern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred today at our Feather River school,” Trujillo said. She thanked law enforcement for their swift response in protecting the students.
After the shooting, students were rushed to the school gym before being transported to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to reunite with their families. The scene was described as deeply emotional. “Some of the children were incredibly emotional,” said Travis Marshall, senior pastor for the church. “One woman was raising her hands up, praising the Lord” upon finding her child safe. Sixth grader Jocelyn Orlando recounted the terrifying experience. “We were going in for lunch recess, and basically everybody in my classroom heard shooting. Most people were screaming,” she told CBS News Sacramento. “We all went into the office, closed the curtains, locked the doors, and then one of the teachers came, and we all ran into the gym.”
The shooting has sent shockwaves through Palermo, a rural town about 65 miles north of Sacramento with a population of 5,500. Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents the area, said his “heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy.” “As a community, we’ll all be hugging our loved ones closer today as we pray for the victims and try to make sense of something so senseless,” he said in a statement.
The incident is the latest in a string of school shootings across the U.S., reigniting debates about gun control. According to KFF, firearms were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021.
