The tragic school shooting in Butte County, California, occurred at the Feather River Adventist School in Palermo on December 4, 2024. Glenn Litton, 56, used an alias to gain access to the school by pretending to be a grandfather interested in enrolling his grandson. The violence started with an appointment at Feather River Adventist School just outside Oroville, a town of around 20,000 about an hour’s drive north of Sacramento.
After being dropped off at the school in an Uber, Litton had a meeting with the principal to discuss enrolling his grandson in the school, which has fewer than 40 students. Sheriff Kory Honea said that this was a ruse to gain access to campus and that Litton had no grandson. “It was a cordial meeting,” Honea said. “There was nothing that gave rise to concern.”
After the meeting, Litton walked toward the parking lot as if to leave, before turning and heading to the playground, where students were finishing their noon recess and returning to class. Litton then pulled out his firearm and initiated the attack, critically injuring two kindergartners, ages 5 and 6, before taking his own life. The children were taken to a trauma center in Sacramento and are expected to undergo multiple surgeries.
Sheriff Honea identified Litton as a homeless, mentally ill man with a long criminal record who targeted the school due to its affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Authorities found a statement by Litton saying that “child executions” were imposed at the school in response to “America’s involvements in genocide and oppression of Palestinians” and attacks in Yemen. Litton mentioned the “International Alliance” in his writings, claiming his actions were a response to America’s involvement in these conflicts, although authorities have not confirmed the existence of this group.
This tragic incident is part of a broader trend of increasing school shootings in the United States, raising concerns about school safety and the need for more stringent security measures.
Recommendations
In addition to the common practices of implementing controlled entry points, enhancing surveillance systems, conducting regular safety drills, hiring school resource officers, utilizing a visitor badging system, having comprehensive emergency response plans, and providing staff training, I offer two key takeaways from this specific incident for school administrators to consider:
- Rethink School Tours During School Hours: To reduce risk and mitigate unnecessary exposure to harm, school administrators should reconsider offering school tours during school hours when children are present. Ensuring that students, the most precious commodity, are not part of the equation during tours will significantly enhance their safety.
- Thoroughly Vet Individuals Requesting School Tours: School administrators should thoroughly vet individuals requesting school tours for enrollment. To be eligible to access district property, parents or guardians must provide proof of residency within the school district.
- Mandatory Presence of Prospective Students During Tours: The parent or guardian must bring the prospective student with them during the scheduled tour.
Implementing the recommended safety protocols, along with existing safety measures, can help create a safer environment for students and staff.
