On Thursday, law enforcement officials identified the alleged shooter who injured two students at a faith-based school in Butte County before killing himself on Wednesday.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea named the alleged gunman as Glenn Litton, 56, who has a significant criminal history extending back to his youth and may have been without a fixed domicile in recent years.
Litton allegedly entered Feather River Adventist School near Oroville on Wednesday shortly after noon under an alias to speak with the principal about enrolling his grandson.
Honea stated that school workers regarded the discussion on Wednesday as “cordial,” and that no complaints were raised.
Honea said on Thursday that detectives discovered that, while Litton has a daughter, he does not have a grandson, and that the information may have been a deception to get access to the school.
According to Honea, investigators discovered “writings” from Litton that stated: “Countermeasures involving child executions have now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist School in California, United States by the International Alliance.” Lieutenant Glenn Litton of the Alliance carried out countermeasures in response to America’s involvement in the genocide and oppression of Palestinians, as well as attacks on Yemen.
Honea stated that deputies and federal investigators have not determined whether the gang exists, but he has encouraged the public to contribute any information they may have.
The Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists runs the private school.
“I’m not sure how he got what’s going on in Palestine and Yemen mixed up with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.” Honea replied, “I’m not sure we’ll ever know that.”
Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said Thursday that a federal probation office recognized in 2015 that Litton was mentally ill and may have been when he was a teenager, though no diagnosis had been proven.
Honea further stated that Litton did not appear to have a present link to the school, despite the fact that as a boy, Litton attended a school run by the same church in neighboring Paradise.
Litton was involved in “criminal matters” around California for several decades, including serving time in prison for theft and being convicted of forgery, identity theft, and theft in Butte County in 2003. Honea stated that he was freed from jail in 2006 after serving several years there.
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel, Litton pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft in California in August 2015 and similar charges in Nevada the following year, serving two years in prison for both terms.
Patel and Honea said they are still looking for more information about Litton and asked the public to phone 530-538-7322 or 1-800-CALLFBI. You can also send information to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
Litton was allegedly caught in South San Francisco in November of this year on theft charges and sent to San Bernardino County, where he was wanted for burglary. He was then released on his recognizance and returned to Chico.
In recent days, he has been sleeping in hotels in the Chico area, according to Honea, who adds that Litton is “best described as homeless” and spends time between Sacramento and Chico.
Litton could not lawfully own firearms because he was a convicted felon. Following Wednesday’s shooting, responding officers allegedly discovered a firearm beside his body.
Honea claimed it was a ghost gun, and Litton had scheduled a similar meeting to allegedly enroll a family member at another school in Red Bluff run by the same church.
