Victims of California school shooting identified, remain in critical condition
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Butte County school shooting
Our reporters are on the ground in Oroville and Sacramento covering the aftermath of the shooting at Feather River Adventist, a school in rural Butte County. Read the latest coverage here.
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The two victims of the shooting at Feather River Adventist School Wednesday have been identified as 5-year-old Elias Wolford and 6-year-old Roman Mendez. Both boys remain in critical condition after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Mendez sustained two gunshot wounds and Wolford was shot once in the abdomen, resulting in internal injuries for both boys.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said during a news conference Thursday that the victims have “a very long road ahead of them in terms of recovery,” and that it is likely they will each have to undergo a number of surgeries.
“But the fact that they are still with us, I think, is a miracle,” Honea said.
Wolford and Mendez were shot at around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday after a lunch recess period. They were then transferred to UC Davis Medical Center.
Elias Wolford
A bullet careened through the chest and abdomen of 5-year-old Elias Wolford, according to a GoFundMe created by his family. Grandparents Monte and Debbie Wolford wrote that their grandson was in the pediatric intensive care unit hooked up to a ventilator, awaiting further surgery.
“We are overwhelmed by the great outpouring of love, concern and especially prayers,” wrote the boys’ grandmother, Debbie Wolford, on a verified GoFundMe page. “You cannot know how much it means that there are hundreds, if not thousands, lifting Elias up before our Heavenly Father. Thank you.”
The extended Wolford family has spent the last day comforting each other and praying, said Michael Wolford said in an interview. He is the granduncle of Elias. Members of the family live in California, Utah and Tennessee.
“The family is spread out across the country, but we’re close in heart,” said Michael Wolford, a pastor living in Moab, Utah.
Michael Wolford, 67, said most of the family are “people of faith” and affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He had never met Elias, but said he married the child’s parents — Fernando and Kirsten — 11 years later in Centerville, Tennessee.
Michael Wolford recalled the outdoor ceremony as “beautiful,” out in nature and near a creek. As of Thursday afternoon, Michael Wolford said, Elias was still alive and in critical condition at UC Davis Medical Center.
“Elias was so excited for Christmas, and now this horrific event has shattered his childhood and our entire family,” said Tawnee Preisner, an aunt of Elias, in a statement. “It is a miracle that a little five-year-old boy was shot by a 9 mm and is still alive. How could someone do this? How could someone come into a school and shoot innocent children?”
Roman Mendez
According to a verified Give Send Go fundraiser created by a family member, Mendez is currently in critical condition “but showing incredible strength.” Sister Vanessa Diaz wrote on Facebook that his recent surgeries have been successful, but there are more to come.
Roman has a twin brother named Armani, according to the fundraising page.
The family is raising funds to help with expenses associated with traveling 2.5 hours from Butte County to Davis and with the impending expenses after his discharge. So far, the family has raised $4,000.
“While he is receiving the best possible care, this has turned our family’s world upside down, and we are struggling to navigate this unimaginable situation,” the Give Send Go fundraiser page says.
The Mendez family has declined the Sacramento Bee’s request comment, citing privacy reasons.
A vigil has been scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Friday in downtown Oroville by the Christmas tree near the Oroville Convention Center. The organizers, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, will help coordinate prayers for the victims and the community.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 6:04 PM.
