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Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Two children were injured in a shooting Wednesday at a Northern California elementary school before the gunman -- who was not believed to be affiliated with the school -- killed himself, according to the Butte County sheriff. The shooting occurred at about 1 p.m. PST at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists near Palermo, which is about 70 miles north of Sacramento.
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The two injured children were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. While the extent of their injuries was not revealed, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told KCRA 3's Chico affiliate that the students who were shot were kindergarten boys, ages 5 and 6.
Sheriff Kory Honea called the shooting "both horrific and tragic" and told reporters that 911 callers alerted them to a person firing shots at students.
"When we arrived, we located an individual, an adult male," Honea said. "He was down, appears to have sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
The remaining 35 students at the K-8 school were taken to Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their parents.
According to Honea, the suspected shooter -- who has not been identified -- had been at the school for a meeting with the principal about enrolling a student.
"Shortly after concluding that meeting, the principal heard shots being fired, heard screams and that's when they determined or found that the two students had been shot," Honea said.
According to investigators, there was no car left at the scene. They believe the suspect was dropped off at the school, perhaps by a rideshare service.
"My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy," said Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents Yuba City.
"We will never understand why or how someone could do a thing like this. I am grateful for the bravery of the law enforcement, fire and medical personnel who responded to this attack to stop the shooter and rescue the victims," Gallagher added.
"As a community, we'll all be hugging our loved ones closer today as we pray for the victims and try to make sense of something so senseless."
