This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. June 23.
A shooting the evening of June 22 at the Butte County Library’s Chico branch left two adults dead and one juvenile injured, said Billy Aldridge, chief of Chico Police Department.
A suspect, Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, has been taken into custody, according to a Chico PD press release on June 23. The Chico PD statement said Sayer’s motivation was a “Columbine high school massacre type of shooting.”
Police said they don’t believe the suspect had any relationship to the victims.
A youth was taken to the hospital with a minor injury after the shooting.
As law enforcement officers departed from the library early June 23, community members placed flowers and handwritten notes around the building to honor the victims.
At 5:12 p.m., Chico PD received a call of shots fired at the library. During the 911 call, Aldridge said officers could “hear gunshots and people screaming.”
As police entered the library, the suspect fled out the back and was stopped by officers who had set up a perimeter, Aldridge said. The suspect was apprehended without further gunfire as he left the library.
Councilmembers Addison Winslow and Katie Hawley posted on their Instagram accounts that the suspect had a shotgun. Hawley said she received this information directly from the city manager; however Chico PD Public Information Officer Kayla Gates said she couldn’t confirm that there was a shotgun recovered at the scene.
Police believe the shooter was acting alone.
Police blocked off East First Avenue between Sheridan and Arbutus avenues for what would likely be at least several hours.
A reunification center has been established at the First Assembly of God church at 1137 Arbutus Ave. Gates asks family members seeking reunification to bring photo identification.
“Any family members who believe that they have someone who was involved in this incident is able to go to the reunification center,” she said.
Chico PD was aided by the sheriff’s office, Chico Fire Department and the FBI.
Aldridge began the press briefing by noting misinformation had been shared regarding the incident. Earlier in the evening, councilmembers Addison Winslow and Bryce Goldstein both posted on their Instagrams about the shooting, noting that “at least 7 people were injured.” Those statements were refuted by Aldridge.
In a statement to ChicoSol, Winslow said the information had come from an “early city manager email report.”
Aldridge said information was provided to the city manager but that early information was subject to change.
Gates said a press briefing would be held on June 23 where more information would be provided.
“The incident this evening was very sad, traumatic for a lot of people, very traumatic for our community,” Aldridge said. “My heart’s prayers go out to the families of those involved in this incident here tonight.”
The investigation remains ongoing and Chico PD asks that anyone with information contact the department’s detective bureau at (530) 897-5820.
Chris Hutton and Elias S. Myers are contributors to ChicoSol and recent journalism graduates.