18-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Shooting at California Library

An 18-year-old suspect was involved in a violent incident at a library in Northern California. The young man conducted a walkthrough of the library before retrieving a shotgun from his vehicle. He then fatally shot one man at the main entrance and another inside, according to law enforcement.

Quick Police Response

Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge stated that gunshots and screams could be heard on a 911 call made Monday evening from the Chico branch of the Butte County Library. Officers arrived on the scene within two minutes. “From the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than four minutes,” Aldridge said, commending the officers for their swift action.

The Details of the Attack

The suspect shot a man at the library entrance in the leg and then in the head. Inside, he fired multiple shots and shot another man in the head, said Sid Patel, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Sacramento office. The full force of the FBI is engaged in the investigation.

Victims and Arrest Information

The victims were identified as Jacob Hull, 46, and Robert Johnson, 74. A child received a minor injury and was hospitalized. As officers entered the library, the suspect attempted to flee out the back but was quickly apprehended by additional law enforcement personnel.

“The incident was very traumatic for our community,” Aldridge said. Officers recovered a shotgun and additional guns registered to the suspect’s family from his vehicle.

Community Impact and Past Incidents

Chico, a city of around 100,000 people located 150 miles northeast of San Francisco, was shaken by the shooting. Authorities announced plans to increase security at library locations. Libraries have seen at least three fatal attacks in the past nine years.

In previous incidents, a man in Oklahoma was sentenced to life in prison for shootings in a library and convenience store. In 2020, another suspect was sent to a mental health facility after fatally stabbing a security guard in New York. A teenager in Clovis, New Mexico, received a life sentence for shooting two library employees in 2017.

Misty Wright, director of public libraries in Butte County, stated, “A library should be a place of joy and safety. Yesterday that safety was shattered.” Mobile patrols were present before the shooting, but their armament status is unknown.

Shooting and Suspect Details

Video footage showed police surrounding the one-story library and apprehending the suspect. Streets around the library were briefly closed, and a reunification center was set up for those inside.

Officials identified the suspect as Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico. He graduated from Chico High School earlier this year and was booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of murder. There is no indication of a prior relationship with the victims.

Investigation and Court Proceedings

Sayer showed an affinity for the Columbine shootings, wearing a shirt similar to one worn by a Columbine shooter. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office and FBI are assisting in the investigation. Libraries in the county were closed following the incident.

Sayer is scheduled for arraignment on Thursday.