PALERMO – Authorities say a suspect is dead and two students were injured after a school shooting in the Northern California community of Palermo on Wednesday.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened around 1 p.m. at Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School.
A man was found by officers with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the sheriff’s office confirming the suspected shooter was dead. Two students were also found shot to death; Their conditions were not known at that time, the sheriff’s office said, but both were transported to local hospitals and were receiving treatment Wednesday evening.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said one student was a 5-year-old boy and the other was a 6-year-old boy.
The suspect has not been identified at this time.
Honea said the suspect was dropped off by someone driving a gray four-door sedan. This vehicle took off from the scene in the direction of Highway 70 and is under investigation if a rideshare dropped it off.
Honea also added that investigators are looking into information that the suspect had a meeting at the school a few days ago with an administrator. Reports indicate the suspect then showed up again Wednesday in an attempt to enroll a child, but deputies do not believe a child was with him.
After the meeting with the principal Wednesday, the principal then heard gunshots, Honea said.
Students were taken to the gymnasium until authorities could get school buses to the scene. They were then taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, 2238 Monte Vista Avenue, where they were reunited with their families.
The shooting appears to be limited to the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School, but Honea said he has provided other law enforcement agencies in California with information allowing them to be vigilant regarding Seventh-day Adventist schools.
Due to the investigation, the California Highway Patrol is diverting northbound traffic on Highway 70 at E. Gridley Road west to Highway 99. Southbound Highway 70 is also closed at Power House Hill Road, with traffic diverted to Lone Tree Road.
The school serves approximately 35 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The FBI responded to assist the Butte County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
Palermo is a city located approximately 25 miles north of Marysville and 65 miles north of Sacramento.
