Two kindergarten students were shot at a small Christian school in Northern California on Wednesday.
The victims, boys aged 5 and 6, remain in “extremely critical condition” following the shooting at the Feather River Adventist School, according to CNN. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the suspect was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As a result of an ongoing, FBI-assisted investigation, the man could not be immediately identified.
The school did not have a security officer
The news outlet reported authorities received details that the suspect targeted the school because of its connections with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. CBS noted Honea said a security officer wasn’t stationed at the school because “that’s not part of the everyday routine.
Authorities discovered the suspect had talked to a school administrator about enrolling a family member earlier in the day. No concerns were raised during the encounter, and investigators are working to determine whether the meeting was a ploy to get on campus, which includes about 35 students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Here’s what the district attorney said at a news conference
CNN published a statement from a Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists communications director who said they were “deeply saddened” by the shooting.
“Join us as we lift up these children and their families in prayer,” the statement said. “We are grateful for the brave officers of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly to protect our students.”
In a news conference, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said he was working with the students and their families affected by the incident.
CNN reported a student’s parent said, “That will be going on now for weeks, obviously months.” He continued, “Not only the children that were previously injured, but those children that saw their classmates gunned down in front of them.”
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