Tragedy Hits Feather River Adventist School in California

On Wednesday afternoon, December 4, a gunman opened fire and critically injured two kindergarten students at Feather River Adventist School in Oroville in Northern California, United States. 

According to Kory L. Honea, Butte County sheriff, a California Highway Patrol officer was on the scene within 90 seconds of the initial emergency phone call. By the time the officer arrived, the gunman had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two boys, Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, were badly injured by the gunman and were rushed, one by ambulance and the other by helicopter, to nearby hospitals.

First responders secured the school and transported the remaining students and staff to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene. Parents were able to reunite with their children.

As reports of the shooting started coming in, Steve Brownell, pastor of the Oroville Seventh-day Adventist Church, received a phone call and immediately went to the scene to offer help. He visits the school once or twice a week and is deeply connected to the students and faculty. He reflected on the situation, saying, “My reaction was just sorrow — that the kids anywhere have to experience anything like this in their lifetime. And then not only them, but the teachers and the parents as well. To have to go through something like this is just unconscionable.” 

The gunman, Glenn Litton, 56, who was identified by officials during a press conference on Thursday, met with the school principal prior to the shooting. He told the principal that he wanted to enroll his grandson at the school. Investigators have not been able to verify whether such a grandson exists. As Litton was leaving the campus he opened fire on the students, who were in the process to returning to their classroom.

Though Litton did not have any known previous connection with Feather River Adventist School, according to a press statement from the Northern California Conference he was “a one-time member of the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church and a former student at Paradise Adventist School.”

Authorities shared that Litton had a long record of issues with the law and was a convicted felon. Additionally, he suffered from mental illness for decades. Though there are indications that Litton made plans to visit another Adventist school this past Thursday, investigators believe that he acted alone and there are no threats against any other Adventist schools.

In a public statement, G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, stated, “We pray for the entire school family and community as they grapple with this senseless violence. We ask that all people, no matter their faith, join us in prayer for everyone affected.”