5 and 6-year old victims in ‘extremely critical condition’ after Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists shooting in Palermo
PALERMO, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Butte County Sheriff's Office reported Tuesday that a school shooting took place at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, leaving two children in critical condition.
Two boys--6-year-old Roman Mendez and 5-year-old Elias Wolford--suffered two gunshot wounds with internal injuries and one gunshot wound to the abdomen, respectively, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
The suspect, now dead, has been identified as 56-year-old Glenn Litton, who, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, has been described as having "a lengthy criminal history and history of mental health issues."
The also describe Litton as a transient person who spent his time between Sacramento and Chico. They say that his first prison sentence was in 1991 for theft followed by a slew of crimes ranging from theft to fraud throughout the 90s and early 2000s.
Butte County Sheriff's office hasn't had contact with Litton since 2003.
Deputies recalled the events leading up to the shooting. They said that Litton was at a Motel 6 in Chico around 7:45 a.m., got onto a bus around 8:30 a.m. and arrived in Oroville carrying a large duffel bag with him.
They say that Litton was at the Raley's later in Oroville and bought an energy drink, leaving the store around 10:56 a.m. He then used an alias of Mark Hansen to get in an Uber, who took Litton to the Feather River Seventh Day Adventist School, dropping him off around 12:11 p.m.
"[We] had a cordial conversation centered around what it would take to enroll his grandson into the school," recalled school administration, referencing an appointment that Litton had made with the school a few days prior.
Deputies say that he used another alias of Michael Sanders and had no intention of enrolling a child in the school. They say that he simply wanted access to the campus.
He then walked back towards the parking lot like he was leaving, and almost instantly, turned and walked back through the breezeway leading to the playground, according to deputies.
They said that the children were finishing up their noontime break and were heading back to class when Litton pulled a firearm from his waistband and started shooting.
Staff heard gunshots and screaming, and then began rendering aide. Deputies didn't give too many specifics on Litton's passing, but they said he died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Deputies say that they did find a motive for the shooting, and that Litton had written a statement, stating:
"Countermeasure involving child executions has now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist School in California. United States by The International Alliance. I, Lieutenant Glenn Litton of the alliance carried out countermeasure in necessitated response to Americas involved with genocide and oppression of Palestinians along with attacks towards Yemen."
Deputies say that they have not been able to find any organization that calls themselves The International Alliance, nor has information proving that this organization has any military or paramilitary structure.
An alternative motive has also been detected by sheriffs. They said:
"It appears as though Mr. Litton also researched the 7th Day Adventist School in Red Bluff, California. We determined that Mr. Litton attended the Paradise 7th Day Adventist School when he was a young man. He may have had a relative attend the school he ultimately went to and committed the shooting. But there's no current connection between Mr. Litton and the school he went to commit this horrible act of violence."
There was a fundraiser for the shooting victims at the Southside Community Center Monday at 5:30 pm that was organized by local churches and community members.
