Even before a teenager allegedly fatally shot two people at the Butte County Library in Chico on Monday afternoon, the building held a unique place in the northern California community. As the only public library serving approximately 107,000 residents, it provides story time for children, English conversation groups, and internet access for those in need. It also served as a lifeline for survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire, California's deadliest wildfire, which devastated nearby Paradise and Magalia.
What Happened at the Chico Library
Police say Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, who had graduated from Chico High School just two weeks earlier, entered the library around 5 p.m., an hour before closing. Branch director Kimberlee Wheeler said it was a quiet time, with few visitors. According to FBI field agent Sid Patel, Sayer walked through the building, returned to his car to retrieve a shotgun, then shot the first victim at the entrance. He fired multiple shots inside, killing two and wounding a seven-year-old girl.
Jacob Cody Hull, 46, was in the library with his partner's daughter, Juniper, and died shielding her. John Wollam, a friend and neighbor, called Hull a hero. The other victim was Robert Johnson, 74, of Orland, California. The girl was hospitalized but later released.
Swift Police Response and Columbine Connection
Chico police dispatchers received multiple 911 calls with sounds of screaming and gunshots. Police Chief Billy Aldridge said officers arrived in under two minutes and took Sayer into custody roughly four minutes after the first call. Investigators say Sayer wore a T-shirt reading 'natural selection,' an apparent homage to the Columbine massacre, and allegedly planned a similar attack. 'It's unimaginable,' said Wollam, a 35-year resident. 'You never think something like this would ever happen in our community.'
Community in Shock
Chico has faced repeated tragedies, including the Camp Fire and nearby shootings, but this random act of violence in a sacred community space shattered residents' sense of safety. 'It's shattering. Tragic. It's something you hope will never happen,' said Wheeler, praising her staff for courageously ushering patrons into locked workrooms. 'We work so hard to make it safe and welcoming every day.'
On Tuesday evening, hundreds gathered for vigils at a local church and outside the library. Reverend Robert Morton told the crowd, 'There are no words I can say today that make sense of how we feel.' City councillor Addison Winslow noted that the history of tragedy means people show up for each other, but added, 'This time it was just here in our library.'
Outside the library, flowers lay by the sign, a board covered a shattered window, and an abandoned book bag remained near the door. Wollam shared memories of Hull: 'He ultimately gave his life protecting her.' He also urged prayers for the shooter's family, saying, 'They're not responsible for his actions.'
