Two kindergarten students are in critical condition after a gunman opened fire at a small rural Christian school in California.
A gunman recently opened fire at the Feather River Adventist in Oroville, California, hitting two kindergartners, aged 5 and 6. The students, both boys, were rushed to a trauma center in the Sacramento area, where they are being treated for "very, very serious injuries."
The boys remain under "extremely critical condition," according to Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea, as quoted by the New York Times. The boys were rescued when authorities responded to the school around 1:10 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls about an active shooter.
What Was the Motive Behind the School Shooting?
The motive behind the crime was unclear. The suspect, who remains unidentified, died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect hired an Uber to go to the school earlier in the day. It was said that the gunman had to attend a meeting with a school administrator on campus---particularly the principal---over the possibility of enrolling a family member as a student.
The meeting had reportedly been cordial. No concerns were raised at the time of the meeting. It remains unclear if the suspect used the meeting as a ruse to enter the campus. Shortly after the meeting ended, the principal heard gunshots and screams.
What Is Law Enforcement Doing Now?
Since the shooting, the police have interviewed the Uber driver to determine if the shooter had said anything during the ride. They are also working to investigate whether the gunman had any connection to the school or the victims but added that the preliminary investigation revealed none.
Authorities also believe the gunman wanted to target the school due to its affiliations with the Seventh-day Adventists. That said they believe it is an isolated incident and that there were no prior threats made against Feather River Adventist and other schools connected to the Seventh-day Adventists.
Law enforcement will continue patrolling the school on Thursday. It is unclear when the students will be allowed to return to school.
Read more: Why Are Children Dying in the US?
