Palermo, CA – A tragic shooting at a small Northern California school has left two young students critically wounded and a community in shock. The incident, which occurred at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, involved a suspect later found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Wednesday afternoon, chaos erupted when gunfire was heard at the school. Six-year-old Roman Mendez and five-year-old Elias Wolford were rushed to a Sacramento-area hospital in extremely critical condition, suffering from severe internal injuries after being shot. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea reported that by Thursday, their conditions had stabilized somewhat but remained critical.
The shooter was identified as 56-year-old Glenn Litton, who, according to Sheriff Honea, had a long criminal history and had attended another Adventist school during his childhood. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation, but initial findings suggest no direct connection between Litton and the two young victims. In the moments leading up to the tragedy, Litton was reportedly dropped off at the school by an Uber driver, sparking further investigations into the circumstances of his arrival.
The local community and law enforcement reacted swiftly to the emergency. Students were safely escorted to a gymnasium before being transported to a nearby church where anxious families awaited. David Pittman, the mayor of Oroville, expressed his heartbreak over the incident, emphasizing the traumatic impact it had on staff, students, and their families. He lamented the grim reality that schools must prepare for such devastating scenarios.
Adding to the community’s response, the Butte County Office of Education stepped forward to provide crisis response teams to assist in reopening the school and supporting the affected families. The Feather River School, catering to around 35 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, lacked a regular security presence, a fact that highlighted its vulnerability.
The wider implications of the shooting have prompted a cautious approach from law enforcement, with Sheriff Honea advising vigilance among Seventh-Day Adventist schools across California due to concerns that this shooting might not have been an isolated event.
The investigation received additional support from the FBI and state agencies, coordinated through Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. As agents scoured the crime scene, sections of Highway 70 were temporarily closed to facilitate the ongoing investigation.
Palermo, a small town of just over 5,000 residents nestled south of Oroville and roughly 30 miles south of Chico, is now grappling with the aftermath of this violence, seeking answers and solace amidst the tragedy. This event underscores the ongoing national debate over school safety and gun control, reminding communities everywhere of the vulnerabilities that exist even in the most seemingly secure environments.