Fatal Shooting at Northern California Library: Details and Arrests

An 18-year-old suspect conducted a walkthrough of a Northern California library before retrieving a shotgun from his vehicle and fatally shooting two men, as reported by law enforcement on Tuesday. The incident took place at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library.

Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge stated that a 911 call made on Monday evening captured gunshots and screams. Officers arrived at the scene within two minutes of receiving the call. Chief Aldridge praised the officers’ quick response, stating, “From the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than four minutes,” which helped prevent further casualties.

Special Agent Sid Patel from the FBI’s Sacramento office provided additional details. The suspect shot one man at the library’s entrance in the leg before firing again to hit his head. Multiple shots were fired inside, resulting in another man being shot in the head. Patel called the attack “horrific” and confirmed that the FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Victims and Arrest Details

The two victims were identified as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson. A child sustained a minor injury and was taken to the hospital, though her name was not released.

The suspect fled from the back of the library as officers entered. Law enforcement stationed behind the building took him into custody. During a news conference, Chief Aldridge mentioned that a shotgun was recovered from the library floor, and two other guns were found in the suspect’s car. These weapons were registered to the suspect’s family, but no further details were given.

The shooting shocked Chico, a city of around 100,000 people located 150 miles northeast of San Francisco. Authorities plan to increase security personnel at each library location. The community was disturbed by this incident, adding to previous violent acts at libraries in recent years.

Security Measures and Community Response

Misty Wright, director of public libraries in Butte County, expressed her sorrow, stating, “A library should be a place of joy. Most of all, it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered.” She revealed that libraries had been visited by mobile patrols, although it is unclear if these patrols were armed.

Video footage shows police patrol cars surrounding the library and officers pointing rifles. Another video shows a man being handcuffed by a police officer after being tackled. Nearby streets were temporarily closed, and a family reunification center was established for those inside the building.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The suspect, identified as Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico, graduated from Chico High School on June 5. He was booked on suspicion of two counts of murder with no apparent connection to the victims. The suspect’s family has retained an attorney, but details were not disclosed.

Michael Ramsey, Butte County District Attorney, noted Sayer’s social media interest in the Columbine shootings. At the time of the attack, Sayer wore a shirt with “natural selection,” echoing the attire of Columbine shooter Eric Harris.

Jeannie Lee Schroeder, who was on a nearby bus, described seeing the police presence and capturing video as events unfolded. Officers from Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI continue to investigate. All Butte County library branches were closed on Tuesday.

This report has been updated to clarify that the victims were two men, not a man and a woman.

Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire.