A suspected gunman is dead, and two students, ages 5 and 6, are in the hospital after a shooting Wednesday at a Butte County elementary school, officials said.Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said they got a 911 call around 1 p.m. about a shooting at the Feather River Adventist School near Palermo. When deputies got to the campus, they found a man believed to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. That man is dead.Deputies also found the two students with gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s office said. They are now in the hospital in “extremely critical” condition, Honea said. KCRA 3’s Chico affiliate was told by Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey that the two students shot were kindergarten boys. Honea later confirmed the boys’ ages. Watch live, on-air coverage in the video player below.On Thursday, the sheriff’s office said the boys remain in critical condition and are continuing to receive treatment.Honea said the suspected shooter was at the school for a meeting with the principal about potentially enrolling a student. Honea noted that investigators have not verified if the purpose of that meeting was legitimate, or just a way for the suspect to gain access to the campus.”Shortly after concluding that meeting, the principal heard shots being fired, heard screams, and that’s when they determined or found that the two students had been shot,” Honea said.The sheriff said investigators are continuing to learn more about the suspect’s background. He said there is a belief that the suspect targeted the school due to its affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.The suspect was also dropped off at the school, Honea said. It was later revealed that he was dropped off by an Uber driver, who has been in touch with authorities and is cooperating with the investigation.Honea said it is not believed that the shooter has a connection to the campus or the students. He has not yet been identified. The FBI is assisting the Butte County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.Watch Honea’s full Wednesday press conference update belowOfficials on Thursday said they positively identified the suspected gunman and are still working to determine the motive behind the attack.The sheriff’s office said students were taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene. Parents were reunited with their children at the church, located at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue.KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was at the Church and has seen several families reunited since evacuations began. She talked to a sixth grader at the school named Jocelyn who said the shooting happened at recess and she saw the gunman. KCRA 3’s DeNeeka Hill was at the corner of Cox Lane and Stimpson Road and said the road was blocked in that area by deputies. Highway 70 was closed in both directions between East Gridley and Power House Hill roads, but it reopened after several hours, according to the California Highway Patrol.LiveCopter 3 flew over the scene at the school. Feather River Adventist School has 35 students enrolled and is a K-8 campus. The school is located roughly 10 miles south of Oroville.The family of Roman, one of the children injured, sent the following statement to KCRA 3:“Thank you so so much. I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has reached out and donated, either to this or to the church groups donations. It had all been so helpful. He is stable as of now but we are waiting to see if more surgeries are needed.”They are also seeking help covering hospital costs and are asking for donations here.On Thursday, the Northern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said it is closing its schools to allow everyone to spend time with their family as they process what happened.Below is its statement:We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred today.Our students, faculty, and staff at Feather River have been reunited with their families. Two of our students are being treated for their injuries. Join us as we lift up these children and their families in prayer. Today, the Northern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will close its schools to allow everyone to spend time with their families. We are grateful for the brave officers of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly to protect our students. We will continue to work closely with Sheriff Kory Honea and his team during this investigation.We will maintain an open line of communication with you as more information becomes available.Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents Yuba City, released a statement about the school shooting:“My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy. We will never understand why or how someone could do a thing like this. I am grateful for the bravery of the law enforcement, fire and medical personnel who responded to this attack to stop the shooter and rescue the victims. 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.”Oroville Mayor David Pittman on Thursday provided a written statement. Read it below:”Our hearts go out to the students, staff, and families of the Feather River Adventist School.Our thoughts and prayers are with the two young boys who have been physically injured in this nightmare.The entire staff, students, and families have also been emotionally traumatized after this incident. Sadly, our schools must plan and train for these kinds of events and pray they never occur. Our schools must be safe places.To the Feather River Adventist School staff, you and your students have suffered unimaginable trauma today.We, as a community, are here to support you through your healing.We thank you for your response after this incident and thank all first responders and agencies.”Do you have photos or video of an incident? If so, upload them to KCRA.com/upload. Be sure to include your name and additional details so we can give you proper credit online and on TV.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
A suspected gunman is dead, and two students, ages 5 and 6, are in the hospital after a shooting Wednesday at a Butte County elementary school, officials said.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said they got a 911 call around 1 p.m. about a shooting at the Feather River Adventist School near Palermo.
When deputies got to the campus, they found a man believed to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. That man is dead.
Deputies also found the two students with gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s office said. They are now in the hospital in “extremely critical” condition, Honea said. KCRA 3’s Chico affiliate was told by Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey that the two students shot were kindergarten boys. Honea later confirmed the boys’ ages.
Watch live, on-air coverage in the video player below.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office said the boys remain in critical condition and are continuing to receive treatment.
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Honea said the suspected shooter was at the school for a meeting with the principal about potentially enrolling a student. Honea noted that investigators have not verified if the purpose of that meeting was legitimate, or just a way for the suspect to gain access to the campus.
“Shortly after concluding that meeting, the principal heard shots being fired, heard screams, and that’s when they determined or found that the two students had been shot,” Honea said.
The sheriff said investigators are continuing to learn more about the suspect’s background. He said there is a belief that the suspect targeted the school due to its affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The suspect was also dropped off at the school, Honea said. It was later revealed that he was dropped off by an Uber driver, who has been in touch with authorities and is cooperating with the investigation.
Honea said it is not believed that the shooter has a connection to the campus or the students. He has not yet been identified. The FBI is assisting the Butte County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
- Watch Honea’s full Wednesday press conference update below
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Officials on Thursday said they positively identified the suspected gunman and are still working to determine the motive behind the attack.
The sheriff’s office said students were taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene. Parents were reunited with their children at the church, located at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue.
KCRA 3’s Maricela De La Cruz was at the Church and has seen several families reunited since evacuations began. She talked to a sixth grader at the school named Jocelyn who said the shooting happened at recess and she saw the gunman.
KCRA 3’s DeNeeka Hill was at the corner of Cox Lane and Stimpson Road and said the road was blocked in that area by deputies.
Highway 70 was closed in both directions between East Gridley and Power House Hill roads, but it reopened after several hours, according to the California Highway Patrol.
LiveCopter 3 flew over the scene at the school.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Feather River Adventist School has 35 students enrolled and is a K-8 campus. The school is located roughly 10 miles south of Oroville.
The family of Roman, one of the children injured, sent the following statement to KCRA 3:
“Thank you so so much. I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has reached out and donated, either to this or to the church groups donations. It had all been so helpful. He is stable as of now but we are waiting to see if more surgeries are needed.”
They are also seeking help covering hospital costs and are asking for donations here.
On Thursday, the Northern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said it is closing its schools to allow everyone to spend time with their family as they process what happened.
Below is its statement:
We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred today.
Our students, faculty, and staff at Feather River have been reunited with their families. Two of our students are being treated for their injuries. Join us as we lift up these children and their families in prayer. Today, the Northern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will close its schools to allow everyone to spend time with their families.
We are grateful for the brave officers of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly to protect our students. We will continue to work closely with Sheriff Kory Honea and his team during this investigation.
We will maintain an open line of communication with you as more information becomes available.
Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents Yuba City, released a statement about the school shooting:
“My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy. We will never understand why or how someone could do a thing like this. I am grateful for the bravery of the law enforcement, fire and medical personnel who responded to this attack to stop the shooter and rescue the victims. 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.”
Oroville Mayor David Pittman on Thursday provided a written statement. Read it below:
“Our hearts go out to the students, staff, and families of the Feather River Adventist School.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the two young boys who have been physically injured in this nightmare.
The entire staff, students, and families have also been emotionally traumatized after this incident. Sadly, our schools must plan and train for these kinds of events and pray they never occur. Our schools must be safe places.
To the Feather River Adventist School staff, you and your students have suffered unimaginable trauma today.
We, as a community, are here to support you through your healing.
We thank you for your response after this incident and thank all first responders and agencies.”
Do you have photos or video of an incident? If so, upload them to KCRA.com/upload. Be sure to include your name and additional details so we can give you proper credit online and on TV.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
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