He Walked Through the Library First. Then Police Say He Came Back With a Shotgun
Police say 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer walked through a Chico, California library before returning with a shotgun and opening fire, killing Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson. The attack has shaken the community, raised questions about public library safety, and drawn attention to the suspect’s alleged interest in past mass shootings.
Marie NovakMarie Novak is a crime news writer for Crimehowl, covering true crime, missing persons cases, court updates, and stories that leave communities searching for answers. She focuses on writing with empathy, clarity, and a deep respect for victims and their families while encouraging readers to think critically about the cases that shape the headlines.
PUBLISHED JUN 25, 2026 · 12:00 | 4 MIN READ | FILED UNDER CURRENT CRIMES
A quiet evening at a Northern California library turned deadly after police say an 18-year-old walked through the building, returned to his vehicle, grabbed a shotgun, and opened fire.
The shooting happened Monday evening at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library, a place families, students, and neighbors are supposed to feel safe. Instead, two men were killed, a child suffered a minor injury, and the community was left shaken by violence in one of its most public spaces.
Authorities identified the two victims as 46-year-old Jacob Hull and 74-year-old Robert Johnson.
According to Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge, gunshots and screams could be heard in the 911 call. Officers arrived within two minutes, and the suspect was in custody less than four minutes after the first emergency call came in.
That quick response may have prevented even more loss of life.
Police identified the suspect as Bradley Scott Sayer of Chico. He was booked into the Butte County Jail on suspicion of two counts of murder. At this stage, he has been accused, not convicted.
Police Say the Suspect Scoped Out the Building
Investigators say the shooting did not begin the moment Sayer entered the library.
According to law enforcement, Sayer first walked through the building. He then allegedly went back to his vehicle, retrieved a shotgun, and returned.
Authorities said he shot one man at the library entrance, striking him in the leg before shooting him in the head. Police said he then fired multiple shots inside the library and fatally shot another man.
A child was also taken to a hospital with a minor injury. Officials did not release her name.
As officers entered the front of the library, police say Sayer fled out the back. Additional law enforcement officers were already positioned behind the building and took him into custody.
Officers recovered a shotgun from the library floor. Police also said two additional guns were found in Sayer’s car. According to the police chief, the weapons were registered to the suspect’s family.
A Community Stunned by Violence
Chico is a city of about 100,000 people, located roughly 150 miles northeast of San Francisco. It is home to California State University, Chico, and is not the kind of place where people expect a trip to the library to end in tragedy.
Butte County library officials said all library branches would be closed Tuesday after the attack.
“A library should be a place of joy,” said Misty Wright, director of public libraries in Butte County. “Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered.”
That statement captures why this shooting feels so disturbing. Libraries are not just buildings full of books. They are community spaces. Parents bring children there. Students study there. Older residents gather there. People go there because they believe it is safe.
On Monday night, that sense of safety was broken.
Video from the scene showed patrol cars surrounding the one-story brick library building while officers pointed rifles toward the structure. Another video showed a man being taken into custody near the scene.
A family reunification center was later set up for people who had been inside the library.
Investigators Say He Acted Alone
Police said Tuesday that they believe Sayer acted alone. Officials also said there was no indication that he had any prior relationship or connection to the victims.
That lack of an obvious connection raises one of the most unsettling questions in the case: why were Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson killed?
Investigators have not yet released a clear motive.
However, officials said Sayer was wearing a white T-shirt with the words “natural selection” on it. FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said the shirt mimicked one worn by Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters in 1999.
Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Sayer had been a longtime fan of the Columbine attack on social media.
That detail will likely become a major focus of the investigation, especially as authorities examine whether the shooting was inspired by past mass violence.
Sayer graduated from Chico High School on June 5, according to officials. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
Libraries and Public Safety
This shooting also adds to a disturbing pattern of violence in public libraries across the country.
In recent years, fatal attacks have taken place at libraries in Oklahoma, New York, and New Mexico. While these cases are separate and involve different circumstances, they all raise the same uncomfortable question: how do communities protect public spaces without making them feel like locked-down security zones?
After the Chico shooting, authorities said security personnel would be added at each library location.
That may bring some comfort, but it cannot erase what happened.
Two men went to a public library and never came home. A child was injured. Families were terrified. A community gathering place became a crime scene.
And now Chico is left asking how an ordinary Monday evening turned into something so devastating.
What do you think should change after this? Should public libraries increase security, or would that take away from the open, welcoming purpose libraries are supposed to serve?
