Suspect in Chico’s Butte County Library shooting makes first court appearance

Bradley Scott Sayer, the suspect in Monday’s shooting at Butte County Library in Chico, made his first appearance in Butte Superior Court in Oroville on Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors have formally charged Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, of Chico with two counts of murder stemming from the library shooting on Monday that killed Robert Johnson, 74, of Orland and Jacob Hull, 46, of Chico.

The murder charges each include an enhancement alleging Sayer used a gun in the crimes, court records show. If convicted, the enhancements each could result in an additional sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Sayer wore a long-sleeve yellow shirt and answered a question from the judge verifying his identity in a bright tone of voice.

Sayer’s arraignment was moved to July 16 after his attorney Roberto Marquez requested a three-week postponement to review law enforcement reports and make a decision regarding the plea. Sayer is being held without bail.

At the Butte County Library on Monday evening, Sayer allegedly fatally shot Hull at the main door and Johnson inside.

At 5:12 p.m., dispatchers received multiple 911 calls. Police arrived six minutes later and entered the library. Sayer allegedly fled out of the back door, where officers stationed there took him into custody.

Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Hull was taken to Enloe Hospital, where he later died.

A case update released Thursday by the Chico Police Department said that an autopsy examination found that both men had died as a result of gunshot wounds.

An 8-year-old child was also injured in the shooting. Hull gave his life to protect her, according to the girl’s uncle Philip Brun. She received treatment at Enloe Hospital before reuniting with her family.

There was no indication Sayer had any prior relationship with the victims.

Police said he appeared motivated to commit “a Columbine High School massacre type of shooting,” referring to the 1999 school shooting, but did not explain why they believed as such.

The suspect’s father, David Sayer, told the San Francisco Chronicle that there were “zero” warning signs before the crime. He described his son as shy and “high-functioning” on the autism spectrum.