Press Releases

Northern California Conference Issues Statement After Butte County Press Conference Addressing Adventist School Shooting

Screen shot of Dec. 5 2024 press conference

Laurie Trujillo, Northern California Conference director of communication and development, answers a question during the Butte County Sheriff's Office press conference on December 5, 2024, one day after a gunman shot two students of the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School. Screen grab from the live-streamed press conference

UPDATED December 6, 2024, 2:01 p.m. ET

The facts surrounding the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School shooting have become more clear after today’s late afternoon press conference with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Key facts learned or confirmed today include:

Both of the kindergarten students who were seriously wounded remain in critical condition but are stable.

The perpetrator was identified as Glenn Litton, a one-time member of the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church and former student at Paradise Adventist School.* Sheriff Kory Honea reported that Litton suffered from mental illness and had a lengthy criminal background. As a convicted felon, Litton did not legally own the firearm used in the crime.

Law enforcement continues to seek information that will help illuminate Litton’s motive. Still, writings attributed to him suggest that he imagined himself to be a “lieutenant” in what appears to be a fictitious organization called the “International Alliance.”

The attack was an isolated incident. Litton died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There are indications that Litton had made plans to visit another Adventist school on December 5. According to Sheriff Honea, the gunman acted alone, and there are no lingering threats against any Seventh-day Adventist school, church, or other institution.

Honea paid tribute to the efforts of the Feather River principal and teachers who acted swiftly and decisively to protect students as soon as the threat was detected.

Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists director of communication and development, Laurie Trujillo, also spoke at the press conference and said, “On behalf of the Northern California Conference leadership team, I’d like to share our deep gratitude to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea and his team, the California Highway Patrol, and all first responders. These consummate professionals quickly rushed in yesterday to protect our students and teachers. We also are thankful for the additional support from the FBI and are working closely with law enforcement as they seek answers through the investigation.”

Trujillo also shared that all Adventist schools in the Northern California Conference will be open on Friday, Dec. 6.

UPDATE: 

Many Adventist schools will resume classes today (Dec. 6), and special efforts are being made to ensure counseling support is available to all families and students. Chico, Yuba City, and Feather River Adventist schools will remain closed as we prioritize care and support for staff, families, and students. Please continue to pray for all our students, especially those hospitalized, and our faculty, staff, and families.

* Information about Litton's membership was not part of the Dec. 5 press conference. 

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On behalf of the Feather River community, the Northern California Conference continues to encourage prayers lifting up all who have been affected by this tragedy.