Chico Library Shooting
Chico Library Shooting Leaves One Dead, Suspect in Custody; Police Confirm No Ongoing Threat
Key Points
Death confirmed: Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge told the Enterprise-Record that one person died in the library shooting.
Location reporting varied: some outlets cited Sherman Avenue and East Third Avenue as the scene, while others described East First Avenue and Sherman Avenue as the intersection involved.
Some reports described an active shooter scenario, but Chico police did not confirm an active shooter at the scene.
Police communicated updates via social media, specifically posting on Facebook that there was one suspect in custody and no information indicating an ongoing threat.
Injuries were uncertain: at least one injury was reported initially, but later reporting noted no verifiable information on injuries as the investigation continued.
A gunman opened fire inside the Butte County Library's Chico branch on Monday afternoon, killing two people and injuring a child. Police apprehended the suspect behind the building within minutes, and Chico Police Department confirmed there is "no ongoing threat" to the public.
The shooting began around 5:12 p.m. at 1108 Sherman Avenue. CBS News reported that Police Chief Billy Aldridge confirmed two adult fatalities and one juvenile injury at an 8:30 p.m. press conference. The child was taken to Enloe Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Suspect Caught Fleeing Out the Back Door
Officers arrived at the scene in roughly six minutes after the first 911 call, according to Patch. As officers entered through the front of the library, the suspect tried to escape through a rear exit. Officers waiting at the back immediately took him into custody without a struggle.
Chief Aldridge told reporters that no shots were fired between police and the suspect. The suspect is described as a male who acted alone. As of Tuesday morning, his name and motive had not been released, Newsday reported.
Two Adults Dead, One Child Hurt Inside the Library
The two victims killed were adults. Their identities are being withheld until family members are notified, Chief Aldridge said. A child was also shot and transported to Enloe Medical Center. Action News Now reported the juvenile's injury was not life-threatening.
Dispatchers told Associated Press they could hear gunshots and screaming in the background of the 911 calls. About 20 patrol vehicles and tactical units responded to the scene at Sherman Avenue and East Third Avenue. A family reunification center was set up at Chico First Assembly church by 6:30 p.m.
FBI and County Investigators Join the Crime Scene
By late Monday night, agents from the FBI and the Butte County Sheriff's Office had arrived to help Chico police process the scene, Patch reported. The Butte County District Attorney's office is leading the legal review. The suspect is expected to be arraigned within 48 to 72 hours.
The library will remain closed indefinitely. Butte County officials may face pressure to add metal detectors or armed security at public library branches, according to local analysts. Counseling services for witnesses remain available at the reunification center.
Chico Community Reacts to Attack on a 'Safe Haven'
The Chico branch serves a city of roughly 111,490 people and draws from about 76,000 active library cardholders across Butte County, according to county records. Chief Aldridge called the shooting "very sad" and "traumatic for our community."
Local residents expressed shock on social media. One witness said they heard the shots while walking nearby and initially thought it was a car crash, Patch reported. The shooting follows other violent incidents in the Chico area, including a multi-day crime spree and deputy shooting in February 2026.
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