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Four killed in northern California shooting rampage California shooting: Schoolteachers ‘saved’ children from gunman
(about 9 hours later)
Four people are dead after a gunman opened fire in northern California at several locations, including an elementary school, police have said. A gunman who killed four people on Tuesday in rural California fired into an elementary school but was stopped from entering by teachers, police say.
The shooting began at a home in the rural community of Rancho Tehama, about 120 miles (195km) from Sacramento, on Tuesday morning. Staff at Rancho Tehama Reserve School went into lockdown, securing school doors after hearing nearby gunshots.
Police say the gunman was shot dead by police after four people were killed and 10 others injured in the rampage. Authorities praised the teachers' actions as "monumental" in saving "countless" lives.
Officials believe the shootings started as a "domestic violence incident". Police confirmed one child was shot at the school after the gunman fired into it. Others were hurt by broken glass.
Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told the Associated Press news agency that the gunman tried to enter the Rancho Tehama Elementary School with the intention to shoot more children, but was stopped once staff initiated a lockdown. Police later confronted the gunman in a stolen vehicle, shooting and killing him. He was named locally as 43-year-old Kevin Neal.
School officials heard shots being fired and immediately locked the school down, Mr Johnston said. He added that the decision saved children's lives. It is believed the shooting spree began after a domestic row with the gunman's neighbours in Rancho Tehama, a rural community about 120 miles (195km) from Sacramento, on Tuesday morning.
"The shooter literally took his vehicle and rammed their fence and gate, entered the grounds on foot with a semiautomatic rifle," Mr Johnston told US media. Police said they believed he went on a "bizarre and murderous rampage" after the dispute escalated and he killed a neighbour.
A motive is still unclear, but police said the assailant had been involved in a domestic violence incident a day earlier. Officials confirmed the gunman had "prior contacts with law enforcement".
The gunman, who has yet to be identified, appeared to be "randomly picking targets", Mr Johnston told the Los Angeles Times newspaper. The Tehama district attorney told the Sacramento Bee he was being prosecuted on charges relating to a stabbing and assault in January in an incident involving two of his neighbours.
A student at the elementary school was shot and another child was hit in a truck along a road, Mr Johnston said. A woman driving the truck was also struck and all three were being treated for injuries, he said. 'This guy is crazy'
One of the four victims was a neighbour the gunman was accused of assaulting in January, the AP reported. A semi-automatic rifle and two handguns were recovered from one of the crime scenes, police said. At least 10 people were injured in the shootings at multiple locations.
Mr Johnston said the neighbour, a woman, had a restraining order against the gunman. Police said he chose most of the victims at random, and reportedly shot into the school but became frustrated after the teachers' locked the doors and left after six minutes.
A semi-automatic rifle and two handguns were recovered from one of the crime scenes, police said. It is believed the school was alerted after a mother was shot at in her car while driving her children to school. She was reportedly seriously wounded but not killed.
The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper spoke to a man who said he was a neighbour of the unidentified gunman. The child who was shot has undergone surgery after being struck in the leg and chest, reports say. Other children at the school were reportedly injured by broken glass, and some were evacuated from the school and transported to hospital by helicopter.
"This individual shooter was bent on engaging and killing people at random. I have to say this incident, as tragic and as bad as it is, could have been so much worse," Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said.
The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper spoke to a man who said he was a neighbour of the gunman.
Brian Flint said his neighbour "has been shooting a lot of bullets lately, hundreds of rounds, large magazines".Brian Flint said his neighbour "has been shooting a lot of bullets lately, hundreds of rounds, large magazines".
"We made it aware [to police] that this guy is crazy and he's been threatening us," he told the newspaper."We made it aware [to police] that this guy is crazy and he's been threatening us," he told the newspaper.
The Associated Press spoke to a woman who identified herself as Neal's mother, who said he had told her: "I'm on a cliff and there's nowhere to go."
She said Neal was in a long-running dispute with neighbours who he believed were cooking methamphetamine.
Police have refused to officially confirm the gunman's identity until his relatives are notified.
California Governor Jerry Brown issued a statement saying he and his wife were "saddened to hear about today's violence in Tehama County.California Governor Jerry Brown issued a statement saying he and his wife were "saddened to hear about today's violence in Tehama County.
"We offer our condolences to the families who lost loved ones and unite with all Californians in grief.""We offer our condolences to the families who lost loved ones and unite with all Californians in grief."
Vice President Mike Pence wrote on Twitter: "Saddened to hear of the shooting in N. California, the loss of life & injuries, including innocent children. We commend the effort of courageous law enforcement. We'll continue to monitor the situation & provide federal support, as we pray for comfort & healing for all impacted." Vice President Mike Pence wrote on Twitter: "Saddened to hear of the shooting in N. California, the loss of life & injuries, including innocent children.
"We commend the effort of courageous law enforcement. We'll continue to monitor the situation & provide federal support, as we pray for comfort & healing for all impacted."