Two kindergarten-age boys were shot at a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian school in California on Wednesday by a man claiming to be taking revenge for American involvement with a supposed Gaza “genocide” and attacks on Yemen, according to a Thursday Butte County Sheriff’s office briefing.
Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, were in critical but stable condition following the attack on the Feather River School in Palermo by gunman Glenn Litton, known to have a lengthy criminal record and mental health history.
The 56-year-old assailant, who was found at the school by first responders with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound, had left a statement justifying the shooting as revenge for the ongoing Israeli military operation against Hamas in Gaza and operations to counter Ansar Allah’s maritime terrorism and missile attacks.
“Countermeasures involving child execution have now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist school in California, United States, by the International Alliance,” read the manifesto shared by Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea at the Thursday briefing.
“I, Lieutenant Glenn Litton of the Alliance, carried out countermeasures in necessitated response to America’s involvement with genocide and oppression of Palestinians along with attacks towards Yemen.”
Honea noted that Litton had “significant” mental health issues and had likely cobbled together information from various different sources to create a different reality.
Law enforcement was working to identify if there was indeed an organization by the name of “International Alliance” or if it was a fabrication of Litton’s. Investigators have thus far found no indication that such an organization exists.Honea said that the suspect had explored other Seventh-Day Adventist schools as alternative targets. Litton himself had attended a Seventh-Day Adventist school and had targeted the religious group due to his “notions” about the Christian movement’s activities.
Litton arrived at the school on Wednesday after having booked an Uber under the name Mark Hansen. He had reportedly scheduled an appointment with the school’s administrators under the alias Michael Sanders, an identity that he had previously used in a November license forgery and theft of a U-Haul truck. Under the guise of Sanders, Litton pretended to be interested in enrolling his fictitious grandson at the school.
After a tour of the facilities, Honea said that Litton headed toward the school’s parking lot and then turned toward the playground. The attacker pulled out a concealed ghost gun pistol and shot the two boys.
Honea said that the children would likely have to undergo multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery process.
“The people that truly matter are the victims,” rather than the perpetrator, Honea remarked.
Community initiatives
Several community initiatives have been organized to aid the families. The North Valley Community Foundation is holding an online fundraiser, and a chili buffet fundraiser is set to be held on Monday at the Oroville Southside Community Center.
A candlelight prayer vigil was scheduled for Friday in front of the downtown Oroville Christmas tree.
Oroville Mayor David Pittman said that the entire community was thinking and praying for the wounded boys and all the students, staff, and families associated with the school.
“Sadly, our schools must plan and train for these kinds of events and pray they never occur,” Pittman said in a Thursday statement.
“Our schools must be safe places. To the Feather River Adventist School staff, you and your students have suffered unimaginable trauma today. We, as a community, are here to support you through your healing.”
Litton was homeless and moved between locations and hotels in the Sacramento and Chico areas. His criminal history included robbery, forgery, and theft. In March, Litton stole over 1000 dollars from the cash register of the CVS pharmacy at which he worked.