In brief
A gunman posing as a prospective parent shot two young children before taking his own life.
In a shocking event at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in rural California, a 56-year-old man named Glenn Litton used a deceptive story to gain access to the school. He scheduled a meeting with an administrator to discuss enrolling a student, leading to a tour of the facility. However, during the visit, he suddenly opened fire, injuring two young children, ages six and five. The children, now in critical but stable condition, were rushed to a trauma center for treatment.This unsettling attack on Wednesday is believed to be linked to the gunman's problematic history and possible motivations tied to global conflicts. Investigators found a note detailing that Litton sought to carry out these "child executions" as a reaction to what he perceived as America's role in the oppression of Palestinians and Yemen. He had a troubling background marked by mental health issues and a history of crimes including theft and fraud.After the rampage, Litton fatally shot himself, and first responders found him deceased alongside his weapon. The remaining students, around 35 in total, were later relocated to a nearby church to reunite with their families. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea expressed his gratitude that the young victims survived but acknowledged the long recovery journey ahead for them.While authorities originally considered the shooting an isolated incident, they sent state-wide alerts to other Seventh-Day Adventist-affiliated schools for extra security. The church has over 21 million members globally, including around one million in North America.
