Two kindergartners remain in critical condition after a shooting at a Northern California school last Wednesday, where authorities say the assailant, motivated by delusional beliefs about Middle East conflicts, attacked the small religious school using an untraceable firearm.
Glenn Litton, 56, gained access to Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Oroville by orchestrating what Sheriff Kory L. Honea called a "ruse," posing as a prospective student's grandfather. The attack occurred at the private K-8 institution, which serves fewer than three dozen students in Oroville, situated in the small community of Palermo approximately 65 miles north of Sacramento.
The victims, both kindergarten boys ages 5 and 6, sustained severe injuries requiring extensive medical intervention. The 6-year-old suffered two gunshot wounds causing internal injuries, while the 5-year-old was struck once. "The fact that they are currently still with us is a miracle," Sheriff Honea said, noting they face additional surgeries and "have a very long road ahead of them, in terms of recovery."
Litton was dropped off by an Uber driver for what appeared to be a routine enrollment meeting. After the interaction, he opened fire on the playground before taking his own life. His body was discovered near the playground equipment, with the weapon - described by authorities as a "ghost gun" difficult for investigators to trace - found nearby.
In Litton's writings, investigators found references to taking "counter-measures" against the school in response to America's involvement in Middle East violence. Notably, authorities discovered he had scheduled a similar appointment at another Seventh-Day Adventist school for the following day, suggesting premeditation.
The suspect's troubled history includes documented mental illness dating back to his teenage years, though investigators note no specific diagnosis has been found. Recent online activity showed searches for guns and explosives, with what Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey characterized as "just ruminations" about planning a mass incident. As a convicted felon with a decades-long criminal record primarily involving theft and identity theft, Litton was legally barred from possessing firearms.
The shooting has deeply affected the tight-knit community. "When you see this on the news or nationally and it's like, those things don't happen here. Well, yesterday it happened here," said Oroville City Councilmember Shawn Webber. "It just absolutely violated the peace of our community."
The school was closed Thursday, though sheriff's deputies maintained a presence on campus as staff members were observed removing classroom items. Community members have organized a candlelight vigil for Friday.
Laurie Trujillo, speaking for the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, acknowledged the lasting impact of the incident: "We know that the close-knit Feather River community will be grieving for a long time, as will the rest of our conference."
Jewish Breaking News and AP contributed to this article.
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