In a harrowing incident that has gripped the community of Palermo, California, a gunman used deceit to enter the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, resulting in the shooting of two young children before he took his own life. The tragedy, unfolding in a rural setting near Oroville, about 55 miles from Sacramento, has left the local and national communities reeling from its implications.
A Disguised Entry with Dire Consequences
The assailant, identified as 56-year-old Glenn Litton, orchestrated a chilling attack under the guise of a routine administrative meeting about enrolling a student, which police say was a calculated plan to gain access to the school premises. The meeting, described as initially cordial, took a fatal turn when Litton excused himself purportedly to visit the bathroom, only to begin his planned assault. As he opened fire near a kindergarten classroom, two children, aged five and six, were critically wounded. The sounds of gunfire ended abruptly when the gunman ended his own life. The school, which usually buzzes with the sounds of innocent laughter and learning, was left in chaos and fear as the remaining 35 children were hurriedly moved to safety and later reunited with their distraught families at a nearby church.
Motive Tied to Global Conflicts
In a shocking revelation, the Butte County Sheriff, Kory Honea, disclosed that a note found at the scene detailed Litton’s motive, linking his heinous act to international conflicts. The note expressed Litton’s distress over America’s involvement in the "Genocide and Oppression of Palestinians" along with actions towards Yemen, framing the shootings as a misguided retaliatory act. Sheriff Honea emphasized the complexity of the motive, pointing to Litton’s extensive criminal and mental health history, which included charges of theft, fraud, and forgery. This background paints a portrait of a deeply troubled individual whose actions have now left a permanent scar on the community.Community and National Response
The shooting has prompted a statewide alert, particularly to schools affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, reflecting the fear that similar ideologically motivated attacks could be possible elsewhere. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, known for its peaceful teachings and significant global presence, with over 21 million members worldwide, finds itself at the center of an unfathomable act of violence.