Two Kindergarteners in Critical Condition After Northern California School Shooting, Sheriff Says

PALERMO. Two kindergarten students are in “critical condition” and a suspect is dead after a school shooting in the Northern California community of Palermo on Wednesday, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities said the incident happened around 1 p.m. at the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School.

The California Highway Patrol found a man with a gunshot wound, and the sheriff’s office confirmed that the suspected shooter had died. An employee of the CHP found a gun near the suspect.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide an update on the incident at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The last condition of students

Two kindergarten students, a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old boy, were found shot to death, Butte County Sheriff Corey Honea said. The students were taken to a Sacramento-area hospital and are in “extremely serious condition,” Honea said.

“I’m thankful they’re still alive, but they have a long way to go,” Honea said.

AND – said the sixth grade student she helped her teacher comfort the younger students as the gunman was outside the classroom.

The Butte County Office of Education offered to provide emergency response personnel to work with local school administrators to help reopen schools.

What do we know about the suspect?

The identity of the suspect has not been established. Deputies do not believe in the connection between the suspect and the victims.

Honea said the suspect was dropped off at the school by an Uber driver. Investigators are interviewing the driver to learn more about what led to the suspect being dropped off at the school.

Honea also added that investigators are looking into the “story” that the suspect called several days ago to make an appointment at the school with an administrator for Wednesday. Reports indicate the suspect showed up trying to register the child, but deputies do not believe the child was with him.

Gunshots were heard after a meeting with the administrator Wednesday, Honea said.

The shooting appears to involve the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School, but Honea said he has provided information to other law enforcement agencies in California to be vigilant when it comes to Seventh-day Adventist schools because it appears the school may have been targeted because of its affiliation.

The students were taken to the gymnasium until the authorities bring school buses. They were then taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Ave., where they were reunited with their families.

The school serves about 35 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and Honea said the school does not have a security officer because it is not part of the daily routine.

In connection with the investigation, the CHP closed Highway 70 for several hours.

The FBI responded to assist the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he and other state agencies are assisting local officials.

Palermo is a city about 25 miles north of Marysville and 65 miles north of Sacramento.

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