The kindergarten students, a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old boy, were found shot and were taken to a Sacramento area hospital, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. The boys were in critical condition, Honea said.
Honea said Roman was shot twice and had internal injuries, and Elias was shot once in the abdomen. They are still being treated for their gunshot wounds and will need several surgeries
The shooter was dead on the scene. A California Highway Patrol officer found the man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a handgun next to his body.
Authorities identified the shooter as Glenn Litton, 56, the Associated Press reported. Investigators said Litton believed that by targeting children he was carrying out “counter-measures” in response to America’s involvement in Middle East violence.
Honea said Litton used a “ruse” of pretending to enroll a fictitious grandson to gain entry to the school. He was dropped off at the school by an Uber driver.
After Litton met with a school administrator, gunshots were heard, Honea said.
The school serves about 35 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. After the shooting, students were taken to a nearby church where they were reunited with their families.
Palermo is a community about 65 miles north of Sacramento.
