Chico Library Shooting Suspect Linked To Columbine Obsession, Two Killed
An 18-year-old man opened fire at the Chico Public Library on June 22, 2026, killing two people and injuring a child; he was arrested minutes later.[1]
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer and said he was taken into custody less than four minutes after the first 911 call.[1] Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said Sayer had no known connection to the library or the victims and that he conducted a walkthrough before retrieving a shotgun from his vehicle and opening fire.[1] Authorities identified the two people killed as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson, and said an underage girl was treated at a hospital.[1] A search of Sayer's vehicle at the library recovered two additional firearms, officials said, and investigators are probing how he obtained the weapons.[1] FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said Sayer had graduated from Chico High School on June 5, 2026.[1] Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, June 25, 2026.[1]
Investigators said Sayer had been a long-time online "fan" of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and wore a white "natural selection" T-shirt that mimicked shooter Eric Harris.[1] The 1999 Columbine shooting has been linked to at least 50 subsequent mass shootings that killed over 300 people and wounded over 500, a tally covering 1999 through 2024.
The mainstream summary does not mention the broader implications of the shooting as part of a troubling trend linked to the Columbine effect, which has been directly associated with at least 50 subsequent mass shootings that have resulted in over 300 deaths since 1999. This context highlights the ongoing influence of the Columbine shooting on contemporary acts of violence, a connection that is crucial for understanding the motivations behind Sayer's actions. Furthermore, the summary omits the fact that only one out of 333 active shooter incidents identified by the FBI between 2000 and 2019 occurred in a library, suggesting that this attack is an outlier in a specific and rare category of violence, which could prompt deeper discussions about safety in public spaces like libraries and the rarity of such incidents in that context.[2][3]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
The 1999 Columbine High School shooting has been directly linked to at least 50 subsequent mass shootings that killed over 300 people and wounded over 500.
Columbine effect — Wikipedia
Out of 333 active shooter incidents identified by the FBI between 2000 and 2019, only 1 occurred in a library.
Active Shooter Incidents 20-Year Review, 2000-2019 — Federal Bureau of Investigation
📌 Key Facts
- Police publicly identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer, who was taken into custody on Monday, June 22, 2026, less than four minutes after the first 911 call (Bradley Scott Sayer).
- Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said Sayer had no known connection to the library or the victims and that he conducted a walkthrough of the building before retrieving a shotgun from his vehicle and opening fire (Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge).
- Authorities identified the two deceased victims as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson; an underage girl was injured and treated at a hospital (Jacob Hull).
- Investigators say Sayer was influenced by the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and other mass attacks, wore a white “natural selection” T-shirt mimicking Columbine shooter Eric Harris, and had been a long-time online “fan” of Columbine (Columbine High School shooting).
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said Sayer had just graduated from Chico High School on June 5, 2026, and that a search of his vehicle at the library recovered two additional firearms while investigators probe how he obtained the weapons (Chico High School).
- Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, June 25, 2026, following the June 22 attack (Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Police publicly identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer, who was taken into custody on Monday, June 22, 2026, less than four minutes after the first 911 call.
- Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said Sayer had no known connection to the library or the victims and described a walkthrough of the building before he retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle and opened fire.
- Authorities identified the two deceased victims as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson; an underage girl was injured and treated at a hospital.
- Investigators say Sayer was influenced by the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and other mass attacks, wore a white "natural selection" T-shirt mimicking Columbine shooter Eric Harris, and had been a long-time online "fan" of Columbine.
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said Sayer had just graduated from Chico High School on June 5, 2026, and that a search of his vehicle at the library recovered two additional firearms, with investigators probing how he obtained the weapons.
- Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday following the June 22 attack.