Authorities Name Two Men Killed in Chico Library Shooting

Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson, 74, were killed in the June 22 attack at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library, authorities said; Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge said a child was wounded.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 7, 2026, 11:24 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Jun 23, 2026, 11:08 a.m. ETWritten Aug 17, 2026, 5:24 p.m. ET

Authorities have identified the men killed in the shooting at the as Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson, 74. police released both names, and Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey and other officials also identified the men, giving the first victim's name as Jacob Cody Hull. Official accounts of his age conflict: police and the district attorney's office gave him as Jacob Hull, 46, while authorities on identified a victim as Jacob Hull, 36, a resident. One child was wounded, Police Chief Billy Aldridge said. The toll of killed and one injured stands as of . Officials placed the shooting on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the in , ; the is the level of detail officials have given for the location. said 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer opened fire inside the library on , killing adults and wounding a child before fleeing out a back door. Police said reports of an active shooter came in just past 5 p.m., and that the gunman opened fire at around 5 p.m. Monday. Aldridge, speaking at a press conference on Monday night, said gunshots and screams could be heard on a 911 call from the library, that officers arrived within minutes of the call, and that "from the first 911 call to having him was less than four minutes." He said the entire incident lasted about four minutes from the first 911 calls to the arrest. The incident is no longer active. Police named the person arrested as , and released a booking photo provided by the Butte County Sheriff's Office. He is and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, Ramsey said. Ramsey said: "The suspect was a fan, and a fan for some time, of social media involving Columbine-type shootings, the school shootings, and had unfortunately a deep dive into that social media community, and obviously lost his way in that and decided yesterday to act in copycat." Of the suspect's interest in that material, Ramsey said, "He had been a fan, and a fan for a long time." Sid Patel, special agent in charge at the FBI's Sacramento office, said: "He was looking for a confined, populated location to attack," adding that "Yesterday's violent attack was horrific," and that "The full force of the FBI is assisting this investigation." Patel said Sayer had graduated from High School on June 5. The , the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and its Sacramento office, and the Butte County District Attorney's Office are among the agencies responding. Ramsey credited library staff, saying: "They heard the shots, they even saw what was going on, and they shepherded children and patrons into safe places and locked doors." Officials said all Butte County library branches were to be closed . Misty Wright, director of public libraries in Butte County, said: "A library should be a place of joy," and: "Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered." Aldridge said the incident was "obviously very sad, traumatic for a lot of people. Very traumatic for our community." Rep. James Gallagher, the U.S. representative for the area, said: "I am heartbroken by this senseless violence and am praying for the victims, their loved ones and everyone impacted by this tragedy." Governor Gavin Newsom said: "Our hearts are with the community tonight."

Earlier reports

Aug 7, 2026, 11:24 p.m. ETFirst report
Two Killed, Child Wounded in Shooting at Chico Library; Suspect in Custody
Two people were killed and one child was wounded in a shooting inside the Chico branch of the Butte County Library in Chico, California, on Monday, June 22, 2026, according to reporting by Free Republic, Newser and the Daily Mail. The Independent and the Daily Mail attributed the casualty account to authorities who identified the two men who died and to Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge, who stated the child's injury; Newser attributed it more generally to authorities in Chico.
Accounts differ on when those casualty figures were current: Newser and the Daily Mail placed them as of Monday afternoon, while The Independent placed them as of Tuesday.
Sources also describe the setting differently, and none is clearly better supported. The Daily Mail reported the library was open with staff, children and patrons inside when shots were fired around 5pm. Newser described a public library open to the public on a Monday afternoon. The Independent described a Monday evening at the branch with people inside the building, with a family reunification center set up later for those who had been inside. Free Republic noted the library routinely holds events for children and teens. Police received reports of an active shooter just past 5 p.m., according to police as reported by the New York Post. This is a developing story.
Chico police released the names of the two men who died, as reported by NBC News: Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson, 74. Hull's age is given inconsistently in the reporting — listed as 46 in one account, and as a 36-year-old Chico resident identified by authorities on Tuesday in another. The child who was wounded has not been identified.
Chief Aldridge said gunshots and screams could be heard on a 911 call from the library, that officers arrived within two minutes of the call, and that "from the first 911 call to having him in custody was less than four minutes." At a press conference on Monday night he said: "The incident tonight was obviously very sad and very traumatic for a lot of people — very traumatic for our community." A family reunification center was set up for people who had been inside the building, and streets around the library were closed temporarily, The Independent reported. All Butte County library branches were to be closed on Tuesday, officials said. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said of library staff: "They heard the shots, they even saw what was going on, and they shepherded children and patrons into safe places and locked doors."
The suspect, Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, is in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, according to District Attorney Michael Ramsey. Authorities in Chico, or Chico police, identified the suspect, according to Newser, The Independent and the Daily Mail; Free Republic attributed the identification to police, who released a mug shot. The cause and circumstances have not been determined and the investigation is open.
The Chico Police Department, the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the Butte County District Attorney's Office and the FBI are involved in the response. Sid Patel, special agent in charge at the FBI's Sacramento office, said: "Yesterday's violent attack was horrific," and "the full force of the FBI is assisting this investigation." Misty Wright, director of public libraries in Butte County, said: "A library should be a place of joy... Most of all it should be a place that feels safe. Yesterday that safety was shattered." Governor Gavin Newsom said, "Our hearts are with the Chico community tonight," and Rep. James Gallagher said he was "heartbroken by this senseless violence."

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Version 18 Aug 2026, 03:24current
First published.
Version 117 Aug 2026, 21:24current
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