Topline: Investigators say the 18-year-old had no connection to the victims and was arrested within minutes of the attack.
Published: June 26, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Must Read
Bradley Sayer (via Butte County Sheriff's Office)
CHICO, CA — An 18-year-old man accused of opening fire inside a Northern California library told investigators he was inspired by mass casualty attacks like the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, according to the Chico Police Department.
The shooting Monday evening at the Butte County Library in Chico left two people dead and a juvenile girl injured before the suspect was taken into custody within minutes, authorities said.
According to the Chico Police Department, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at 5:12 p.m. June 22 reporting gunfire and screaming coming from inside the library. Officers arrived about two minutes later, entered the building, and encountered the suspect as he exited from the east side, where a police perimeter had already been established. He was arrested without incident.
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico.
According to police, 74-year-old Robert Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Forty-six-year-old Jacob Hull was transported to Enloe Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A juvenile girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was treated at the hospital and reunited with her family, police said.
Investigators said Sayer had no known connection to either the library or any of the victims.
According to the Chico Police Department, detectives determined through interviews with Sayer that he had been influenced by “Columbine High School shooting-type mass casualty events.” Police said he fired approximately eight rounds from a shotgun during the attack. One victim was shot outside the library entrance, while the others were struck inside the building.
According to the Associated Press, Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said officers responded after an open 911 line captured the sounds of gunfire and people screaming inside the library.
“From the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than 4 minutes,” Aldridge said, praising officers for quickly ending the attack.
The Associated Press reported that investigators said Sayer first walked through the library before returning to his vehicle, retrieving a shotgun and beginning the shooting. FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said one victim was shot outside the entrance before the suspect continued firing inside the building.
“Yesterday’s violent attack was horrific,” Patel said. “The full force of the FBI is assisting this investigation.”
Authorities recovered the shotgun from inside the library and, according to the Chico Police Department, found two additional firearms during a search of Sayer’s vehicle in the library parking lot. Police said investigators are still working to determine how Sayer obtained the weapons.
The Associated Press reported the firearms were registered to members of Sayer’s family.
According to police, investigators believe Sayer acted alone and that the shooting was an isolated incident. The Chico Police Department, Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are continuing to examine digital evidence, physical evidence and materials collected from the library, the suspect’s vehicle and two residences connected to the investigation.
Additional details released Tuesday painted a clearer picture of the suspect’s alleged motive. According to the Associated Press, Patel said Sayer was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the words “natural selection,” matching the slogan worn by one of the Columbine shooters during the 1999 massacre. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer had long been an admirer of the Columbine attack through social media.
“He had been a fan, and a fan for a long time” of the Columbine shootings on social media, Ramsey said.
According to KRCR, Chico police said the suspect “wanted to commit a ‘Columbine High School massacre type of shooting.'” The station also reported that family reunification efforts took place at Chico First Assembly of God Church following the attack, while roads surrounding the library remained closed as federal, state and local agencies processed the scene.
The Associated Press reported Sayer graduated from Chico High School on June 5 and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on two counts of murder. Court records available Tuesday did not yet show his case.
The shooting stunned the Chico community, where county officials announced all Butte County library branches would close the following day.
“A library should be a place of joy,” Butte County Public Libraries Director Misty Wright said, according to the Associated Press. “Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Detective Bureau at 530-897-5820.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police Say California Shooter Was Influenced by Columbine Before Opening Fire in Library, Killing Two
Investigators say the 18-year-old had no connection to the victims and was arrested within minutes of the attack.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 26, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Bradley Sayer (via Butte County Sheriff's Office)
CHICO, CA — An 18-year-old man accused of opening fire inside a Northern California library told investigators he was inspired by mass casualty attacks like the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, according to the Chico Police Department.
The shooting Monday evening at the Butte County Library in Chico left two people dead and a juvenile girl injured before the suspect was taken into custody within minutes, authorities said.
According to the Chico Police Department, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at 5:12 p.m. June 22 reporting gunfire and screaming coming from inside the library. Officers arrived about two minutes later, entered the building, and encountered the suspect as he exited from the east side, where a police perimeter had already been established. He was arrested without incident.
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico.
According to police, 74-year-old Robert Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Forty-six-year-old Jacob Hull was transported to Enloe Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A juvenile girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was treated at the hospital and reunited with her family, police said.
Investigators said Sayer had no known connection to either the library or any of the victims.
According to the Chico Police Department, detectives determined through interviews with Sayer that he had been influenced by “Columbine High School shooting-type mass casualty events.” Police said he fired approximately eight rounds from a shotgun during the attack. One victim was shot outside the library entrance, while the others were struck inside the building.
According to the Associated Press, Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said officers responded after an open 911 line captured the sounds of gunfire and people screaming inside the library.
“From the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than 4 minutes,” Aldridge said, praising officers for quickly ending the attack.
The Associated Press reported that investigators said Sayer first walked through the library before returning to his vehicle, retrieving a shotgun and beginning the shooting. FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said one victim was shot outside the entrance before the suspect continued firing inside the building.
“Yesterday’s violent attack was horrific,” Patel said. “The full force of the FBI is assisting this investigation.”
Authorities recovered the shotgun from inside the library and, according to the Chico Police Department, found two additional firearms during a search of Sayer’s vehicle in the library parking lot. Police said investigators are still working to determine how Sayer obtained the weapons.
The Associated Press reported the firearms were registered to members of Sayer’s family.
According to police, investigators believe Sayer acted alone and that the shooting was an isolated incident. The Chico Police Department, Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are continuing to examine digital evidence, physical evidence and materials collected from the library, the suspect’s vehicle and two residences connected to the investigation.
Additional details released Tuesday painted a clearer picture of the suspect’s alleged motive. According to the Associated Press, Patel said Sayer was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the words “natural selection,” matching the slogan worn by one of the Columbine shooters during the 1999 massacre. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer had long been an admirer of the Columbine attack through social media.
“He had been a fan, and a fan for a long time” of the Columbine shootings on social media, Ramsey said.
According to KRCR, Chico police said the suspect “wanted to commit a ‘Columbine High School massacre type of shooting.'” The station also reported that family reunification efforts took place at Chico First Assembly of God Church following the attack, while roads surrounding the library remained closed as federal, state and local agencies processed the scene.
The Associated Press reported Sayer graduated from Chico High School on June 5 and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on two counts of murder. Court records available Tuesday did not yet show his case.
The shooting stunned the Chico community, where county officials announced all Butte County library branches would close the following day.
“A library should be a place of joy,” Butte County Public Libraries Director Misty Wright said, according to the Associated Press. “Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Detective Bureau at 530-897-5820.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police Say California Shooter Was Influenced by Columbine Before Opening Fire in Library, Killing Two
Investigators say the 18-year-old had no connection to the victims and was arrested within minutes of the attack.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 26, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Bradley Sayer (via Butte County Sheriff's Office)
CHICO, CA — An 18-year-old man accused of opening fire inside a Northern California library told investigators he was inspired by mass casualty attacks like the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, according to the Chico Police Department.
The shooting Monday evening at the Butte County Library in Chico left two people dead and a juvenile girl injured before the suspect was taken into custody within minutes, authorities said.
According to the Chico Police Department, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at 5:12 p.m. June 22 reporting gunfire and screaming coming from inside the library. Officers arrived about two minutes later, entered the building, and encountered the suspect as he exited from the east side, where a police perimeter had already been established. He was arrested without incident.
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico.
According to police, 74-year-old Robert Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Forty-six-year-old Jacob Hull was transported to Enloe Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A juvenile girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was treated at the hospital and reunited with her family, police said.
Investigators said Sayer had no known connection to either the library or any of the victims.
According to the Chico Police Department, detectives determined through interviews with Sayer that he had been influenced by “Columbine High School shooting-type mass casualty events.” Police said he fired approximately eight rounds from a shotgun during the attack. One victim was shot outside the library entrance, while the others were struck inside the building.
According to the Associated Press, Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said officers responded after an open 911 line captured the sounds of gunfire and people screaming inside the library.
“From the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than 4 minutes,” Aldridge said, praising officers for quickly ending the attack.
The Associated Press reported that investigators said Sayer first walked through the library before returning to his vehicle, retrieving a shotgun and beginning the shooting. FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said one victim was shot outside the entrance before the suspect continued firing inside the building.
“Yesterday’s violent attack was horrific,” Patel said. “The full force of the FBI is assisting this investigation.”
Authorities recovered the shotgun from inside the library and, according to the Chico Police Department, found two additional firearms during a search of Sayer’s vehicle in the library parking lot. Police said investigators are still working to determine how Sayer obtained the weapons.
The Associated Press reported the firearms were registered to members of Sayer’s family.
According to police, investigators believe Sayer acted alone and that the shooting was an isolated incident. The Chico Police Department, Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are continuing to examine digital evidence, physical evidence and materials collected from the library, the suspect’s vehicle and two residences connected to the investigation.
Additional details released Tuesday painted a clearer picture of the suspect’s alleged motive. According to the Associated Press, Patel said Sayer was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the words “natural selection,” matching the slogan worn by one of the Columbine shooters during the 1999 massacre. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer had long been an admirer of the Columbine attack through social media.
“He had been a fan, and a fan for a long time” of the Columbine shootings on social media, Ramsey said.
According to KRCR, Chico police said the suspect “wanted to commit a ‘Columbine High School massacre type of shooting.'” The station also reported that family reunification efforts took place at Chico First Assembly of God Church following the attack, while roads surrounding the library remained closed as federal, state and local agencies processed the scene.
The Associated Press reported Sayer graduated from Chico High School on June 5 and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on two counts of murder. Court records available Tuesday did not yet show his case.
The shooting stunned the Chico community, where county officials announced all Butte County library branches would close the following day.
“A library should be a place of joy,” Butte County Public Libraries Director Misty Wright said, according to the Associated Press. “Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Detective Bureau at 530-897-5820.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
