A quiet evening at a public library in Chico, California, turned into a major homicide investigation when gunfire erupted inside the Butte County Library branch on June 22, 2026. Responding officers arrived after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired and people screaming inside the building. By the time law enforcement secured the scene, two adults were dead and a juvenile victim had been transported to a hospital with injuries that authorities later described as non-life-threatening.
Investigators quickly identified 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer as the primary suspect. According to the Chico Police Department, witnesses reported that the gunman fled through the rear of the library immediately after the shooting. Officers responding to the area located and arrested Sayer shortly afterward. Authorities stated that he was taken into custody without further violence, allowing detectives to begin what quickly became a multi-agency homicide investigation.
The case drew immediate attention from local, state, and federal authorities. Detectives from the Chico Police Department were joined by investigators from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime scene specialists spent hours processing the library, collecting ballistic evidence, reviewing surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses who were present during the attack. Investigators also began examining the suspect’s digital activity, personal communications, and recent behavior in an effort to determine a motive.
According to statements released by law enforcement, investigators found no evidence that Sayer knew any of the victims personally. Authorities stated that the victims appear to have been selected at random and that there was no known prior relationship between the suspect and those who were shot. Detectives later announced that, based on evidence collected during the investigation, they believed Sayer had acted alone and that there was no ongoing threat to the community.
Police further alleged that the suspect’s motivation was connected to a desire to carry out what investigators described as a “Columbine-type” mass-casualty attack. Authorities have not publicly detailed all of the evidence supporting that conclusion, but investigators indicated that statements, materials, and other evidence gathered after the arrest contributed to their assessment. As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives continue to review electronic devices and other materials seized during the case.
Sayer was booked into the Butte County Jail on suspicion of two counts of murder. Prosecutors are expected to review evidence collected by investigators before determining what additional charges, if any, may be filed. Because the investigation remains active, authorities have released limited information about the identities of the victims and the specific circumstances leading up to the shooting.
For the city of Chico, the attack has left a lasting impact on a community that viewed the public library as a safe gathering place for families, students, and residents. Investigators now face the task of reconstructing the suspect’s actions and intentions in the days and weeks before the shooting. As the criminal case moves forward, prosecutors will seek to establish exactly what occurred inside the library and whether the evidence supports the allegation that the attack was intended to become a larger mass-casualty event.
