A shooting at the Butte County Library in Chico on Monday resulted in the deaths of Robert Johnson, 74, from Orlando, and Jacob Hull, 46, from Chico. A girl accompanying Hull was injured by broken glass but has been released from the hospital. Police were alerted via a second 911 call at 5:12 p.m., and officers arrived within two minutes, apprehending the suspect, 18-year-old Bradley Scott Thayer, shortly thereafter.
Thayer, who is being held in Butte County Jail, is expected to face charges of two counts of first-degree murder and possibly attempted murder. Authorities believe he acted alone and had no prior connection to the victims. His motives reportedly align with a desire to mimic the Columbine High School shooting; he had recently graduated from high school and searched the library prior to the attack. He was found wearing a shirt referencing a Columbine shooter and was armed with a shotgun, which was later recovered from the library, along with two other firearms from his car.
The shooting took place without a security guard present, prompting library officials to enhance security measures. The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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