Two young boys, ages 5 and 6, were critically injured in a shooting at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a small religious K-8 school in Palermo, California, on Wednesday afternoon.

The shooter, whose identity has not yet been released, died at the scene from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shooting unfolded shortly after 1 p.m. on the grounds of the private Christian school, which serves fewer than three dozen students.

According to Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea, the shooter may have targeted the school due to its religious affiliation, though investigators have found no evidence of a prior connection between the suspect, the victims, or the institution.

“Whether or not this is a hate crime or part of some larger scheme, I don’t have enough information at this point to provide an answer,” Sheriff Honea stated during a press conference.

The gunman was reportedly dropped off at the school by an Uber driver, who is now cooperating with detectives.

Initially, the shooter met with an administrator about enrolling a child at the school. Sheriff Honea described the meeting as “cordial” but noted that it was the suspect’s first visit to the campus.

Shortly after the meeting, the suspect began firing.

The two injured children, both kindergarteners, were quickly transported to a trauma center in the Sacramento area, where they remain in “extremely critical condition,” according to officials.

“I am thankful that they’re still alive, but they’ve got a long road ahead of them,” Honea said.

Among the victims is Elias, Debbie Wolford’s grandson, who was critically injured during the attack. Debbie has provided an update on Elias’ condition, and she is asking for prayers for his recovery and for the other child who was also wounded in the incident.

In an update shared by Debbie, she wrote:

“Elias is out of surgery… they are stopping by CT and heading to the PICU. The bullet went through his lung, through his stomach, and clipped a bit of the pancreas. They performed an exploratory laparotomy (X-Lap), opening his abdominal cavity to search for damage. He now has a chest tube in place and may require further surgery, but for now, he is stable and being monitored in the PICU.”

Elias has a long road to recovery ahead, and the family is grateful for the prayers and support they’ve received so far. Please keep Elias, his family, and the other young victim in your thoughts as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.

One of the young victims of the recent shooting at Feather River Adventist School has been identified as 6-year-old Roman Mendez. According to his sister, Roman is currently receiving treatment at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for injuries sustained during the tragic incident.

Roman suffered wounds to his chest and back, and doctors informed the family that he had four wounds. However, it remains unclear whether some of these injuries are entry wounds or exit wounds. His sister shared that Roman has undergone successful surgeries, but his recovery is expected to be both lengthy and difficult.

Adding to the family’s anguish, Roman’s twin brother, who is also a student at Feather River Adventist School, witnessed the horrifying events unfold.

In the wake of the tragedy, the community is coming together to honor and support the victims. A candlelight vigil will be held on Friday at 5:15 p.m. at the Christmas tree in downtown Oroville. Community members are invited to gather in solidarity to remember those affected and offer prayers for healing.

The gunman’s body was discovered near playground equipment, alongside a handgun. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and authorities are working to notify the suspect’s family before releasing his identity.

Following the shooting, law enforcement moved swiftly to secure the scene and protect students. The children were initially gathered in a gymnasium before being transported by bus to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, where they were reunited with their families.

Travis Marshall, senior pastor of the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, described the reunification process as deeply emotional. “Some of the children were incredibly emotional,” he said. “One woman raised her hands, praising the Lord, when she found her child.”

Jocelyn Orlando, a sixth-grader at the school, recounted the harrowing experience. “We were going in for lunch recess, and basically everybody in my classroom heard shooting,” she told CBS News Sacramento. “We all went into the office, closed the curtains, locked the doors, and did what we would do in a school shooting drill. Then one of the teachers came, and we all ran into the gym.”

Laurie Trujillo, a spokesperson for the Northern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, expressed sorrow over the tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred today at our Feather River School,” she said in a statement. “We are grateful to the sheriff’s office for acting quickly to protect the students.”

Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents Palermo, also issued a statement, saying, “My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy. As a community, we’ll all be hugging our loved ones closer today as we pray for the victims and try to make sense of something so senseless.”

The shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents at schools across the United States, reigniting debates over gun control and school safety.

The Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists has served the Palermo community since 1965. It is part of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, a Christian denomination that emphasizes the Bible as its only creed and believes in the imminent return of Christ.

Palermo, a town of roughly 5,500 residents located 65 miles north of Sacramento, is now grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event. As the investigation continues, the community remains in mourning, united in prayers for the recovery of the two young victims.

Authorities have urged anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.