Chico, California, library shooting suspect influenced by Columbine, FBI says
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The gunman who opened fire at a Northern California library on Monday, killing two people, was influenced by the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and other mass shootings, authorities said Tuesday.
The Chico Police Department said the suspect, 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer, had no known connection to the library or any of the victims.
He allegedly walked around the building, went to his vehicle and took his shotgun before opening fire. Sayer fatally shot a man at the main door and inside the Chico branch of the Butte County Library, authorities said.
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Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, is accused of opening fire at a library in Chico, Calif., on Monday, killing two people, police said. It was inspired by the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, authorities said Tuesday. (Associated Press)
After numerous 911 calls, police arrived at the scene and took security measures. Sayer then exited the building and was detained by police.
“It was less than four minutes from the first 911 call to taking him into custody,” said Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge, who noted that gunshots and screams were heard in one of the 911 calls, and that the quick response of police prevented more lives from being taken.
Police said the man at the entrance was shot in the leg and head, and another man inside the building was shot in the head.
The victims were identified as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson. A minor girl was injured and was treated in hospital. Police said eight shots were fired in total.
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Law enforcement personnel during the shooting at the Chico Library in Chico, California, on Monday. (Record via Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-AP)
Sayer had just graduated from Chico High School on June 5, said Sid Patel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Sacramento office.
During the search of Sayer’s vehicle in the library parking lot, two more firearms were uncovered. Investigators were investigating how the weapons were obtained.
A day after the shooting in Chico, California, a sign hung outside the Chico branch of the Butte County Library. (Michael Weber/Chico Enterprise-Record)
According to the Associated Press, Patel said Sayer was wearing a white T-shirt with the words “natural selection” written on it at the time of the shooting, imitating a T-shirt bearing the same slogan worn by Eric Harris, one of the two shooters in the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado.
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Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey “was a fan and had been a long-time fan” of the Columbine shootings on social media.
Sayer is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, Ramsey said.
