Two kindergarten students were critically wounded, and a gunman died by suicide in a shooting at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, California on December 4, 2024.
The assailant, identified as 56-year-old Glenn Litton, opened fire on the school’s playground, injuring two boys: six-year-old Roman Mendez and five-year-old Elias Wolford. Both children sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to a trauma center in the Sacramento area. As of the latest reports, the boys remain in critical but stable condition. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea described their survival as miraculous, emphasizing the challenges they face ahead, including the likelihood of undergoing multiple surgeries.
Litton, who was homeless and had a documented history of mental illness, gained access to the campus by scheduling a meeting with the school principal under the pretense of enrolling a non-existent grandson. After the meeting, he opened fire on the playground before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
Investigators discovered documents in which Litton claimed to be acting on behalf of an “International Alliance” in response to “America’s involvements in genocide and oppression of Palestinians” and attacks in Yemen. However, authorities found no evidence supporting the existence of such an organization. Sheriff Honea explained that Litton “believed he was carrying out counter-measures in response to America’s involvement in Middle East violence.”
The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. at the private K-8 school, which serves approximately 30 students. The facility did not have a security officer on the premises at the time. Other students were safely evacuated to a nearby church and reunited with their families.
The FBI and state agencies are assisting local authorities in the investigation. Law enforcement officials believe Litton may have targeted the school due to its religious affiliation, noting that records indicate he had previously attended a Seventh-Day Adventist school as a child.
The weapon used in the attack was identified as a “ghost gun,” a type of firearm that is assembled from parts and lacks serial numbers, making it difficult to trace. The California Highway Patrol closed a nearby state route during the initial response to the incident.
The Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists has been operating since 1965, providing a spiritually oriented education for children. The shooting prompted the school’s closure the following day as the community began processing the events.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists expressed profound sorrow: ”We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred today. Join us as we lift up these children and their families in prayer.”
This incident adds to the growing number of school shootings in the United States, intensifying the debate over gun control and mental health care. The use of a “ghost gun” in this attack highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and regulating untraceable firearms.
