An 18-year-old suspect walked through a Northern California library, returned to his vehicle for a shotgun, then executed two men in a brutal attack that left the Chico community reeling, law enforcement revealed Tuesday.

Four Minutes From Terror to Custody

Bradley Scott Sayer entered the Chico branch of the Butte County Library Monday evening, conducted a walkthrough, then retrieved a shotgun from his car before launching his assault. The suspect shot 46-year-old Jacob Hull at the main entrance, first in the leg and then fatally in the head. He then moved inside and shot 74-year-old Robert Johnson in the head while firing multiple rounds throughout the building. A child suffered minor injuries during the rampage.

Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said officers arrived within two minutes of the first 911 call, which captured gunshots and screaming. The suspect fled through the back exit as officers entered from the front, but additional personnel stationed behind the building apprehended him. Total time from initial call to custody measured less than four minutes. The police chief praised his officers for preventing further casualties in the city of 100,000 located 150 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Weapons and Disturbing Connections

Officers recovered a shotgun from the library floor and two additional firearms from the suspect’s vehicle. All weapons were registered to Sayer’s family, Aldridge confirmed. Sayer had graduated from Chico High School on June 5, just 18 days before the attack. FBI Special Agent Sid Patel, leading the Sacramento office investigation, stated authorities found evidence that Sayer demonstrated an affinity for the Columbine shootings, though the source text cuts off before providing complete details on this connection.

Police determined Sayer acted alone and found no prior relationship or connection between him and his victims. He was booked into Butte County Jail on two counts of murder. His family retained legal counsel, though the attorney’s name was not released. Court records showed no previous entries for the suspect.

Libraries Under Threat

The attack marks at least the fourth fatal library shooting in nine years. A Tulsa man received life in prison for a 2023 library killing, a New York suspect entered a mental health facility after fatally stabbing a library guard in 2020, and a New Mexico teenager got life for killing two library employees in 2017. Butte County Library Director Misty Wright expressed the violation felt by the community. She said libraries had mobile patrols before the incident but could not confirm if guards carried weapons. County officials announced plans to add security personnel at each library location following the tragedy.