A shooting at a public library in Chico, California, left two people dead and a child injured after an 18-year-old opened fire inside the building on Monday in what investigators described as a planned attack inspired by the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
The suspect was taken into custody shortly after fleeing the scene outside the library.
Emergency calls came in around 5:12 p.m. local time from the Butte County Library’s Chico branch, where dispatchers reportedly heard gunfire and screaming coming from inside the building.
Officers arrived within minutes and moved into the library as the situation was still unfolding.
The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico, ran out a rear exit but was quickly detained by officers positioned outside the building after a brief pursuit, Action News Now reported.
Inside the library, two adults were fatally shot: 74-year-old Robert Johnson of Orland and 46-year-old Jacob Hall of Chico.
A juvenile girl who was with Hall sustained injuries from broken glass during the chaos and was later treated at a hospital before being released. Authorities said all three were inside the library as patrons when the attack began.
Investigators said Sayer acted alone and had no known connection to the victims.
He used a shotgun during the attack and fired multiple rounds inside the building before attempting to flee.
Additional firearms were later recovered from a vehicle associated with him, though officials said there is no indication they were used in the shooting.
Law enforcement officials said evidence reviewed during the investigation suggested the attack may have been ideologically influenced.
That assessment was based on witness statements, digital activity examined after the arrest, and items recovered during the investigation, including a shirt worn by the suspect bearing the phrase “natural selection,” which investigators said is associated with imagery linked to the Columbine attackers, according to The Guardian.
Authorities also said interviews and online activity suggested the suspect had been exposed to content involving past mass shootings, including Columbine-related material.
Officials described the attack as resembling a “copycat” attempt, though the full scope of motive remains under review.
The rapid response by law enforcement was credited with limiting further loss of life.
Officers reached the scene within minutes of the first call and took the suspect into custody less than four minutes after arrival, according to officials.
They said the quick intervention helped prevent the situation from escalating further inside the crowded public building.
The Butte County Library system closed all branches following the shooting and said services would remain suspended while security procedures were reviewed.
Administrators said they expected to reopen later in the week, but only after additional safety measures and staffing adjustments were put in place, Newsweek reported.
Local officials and state leaders expressed condolences to the Chico community as the investigation continued.
Lawmakers and public safety officials acknowledged the impact on residents and emphasized ongoing coordination between local and federal agencies.
The suspect, a recent high school graduate, was booked into Butte County Jail on two counts of murder.
Prosecutors said he is scheduled to appear in court later this week, where additional charges, including attempted murder, could be added depending on the outcome of the investigation and forensic review.
Chico, a college town in Northern California, has experienced prior violent incidents in recent years, contributing to broader concerns about public safety in the region and prompting renewed attention to security in public spaces.
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