Police Arrest 18-Year-Old Suspect After Library Shooting Kills Two in Chico
Two adults were killed and a child injured in a shooting at the Butte County Library in Chico, California; the 18-year-old suspect was arrested and is facing two murder counts.
Police responded to reports of an active shooter at the Butte County Library in Chico around 5 p.m. on Monday, after 911 callers described gunfire and screaming inside the building. Officers entered the library, and the suspect fled through a rear exit, where he was apprehended by officers positioned around the perimeter.
Authorities confirmed that two adults were killed and a child sustained a minor injury. The victims have not been identified. Investigators said the shooter acted alone, and a single firearm was recovered at the scene.
The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Chico resident Bradley Scott Sayer, who was booked into the Butte County Jail on two open counts of murder. Police said there is no evidence that Sayer knew any of the victims.
"His motivation was apparently to conduct a 'Columbine High School massacre type of shooting,'" police said.
The Chico Police Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. East 1st Avenue was closed for an extended period while the scene was secured.
State and local officials issued statements expressing sympathy for the victims and praising the rapid response of law-enforcement personnel.