California Library Shooting: Two Killed, Child Injured, Suspect Arrested in Chico

Two adults were killed and a child injured in a shooting inside a public library in the Northern California city of Chico on Monday evening, with police swiftly arresting a suspect and ruling out any continuing threat to the public. Authorities said the incident has deeply shaken the local community and remains under active investigation.

According to Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge , emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at around 5:12 p.m. reporting gunfire and screams from inside the Chico branch of the Butte County Library . Officers arrived within minutes and entered the building, while additional law enforcement personnel established a perimeter around the site. As police moved into the library, the suspect fled through the rear exit and was taken into custody without incident .

The two people killed were adults. Their identities, along with the suspect’s name, have not been released pending notification of family members and further investigative procedures. Police said preliminary findings indicate the shooter acted alone , although no motive has yet been disclosed.

A child sustained injuries that authorities described as minor and non life threatening and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Streets surrounding the library were temporarily closed, and a family reunification centre was established for people who had been inside the building at the time of the attack.

In the aftermath, all branches of the Butte County Library system were ordered closed on Tuesday. California Governor Gavin Newsom and local lawmaker James Gallagher expressed condolences to the victims’ families and praised the rapid response of law enforcement officers.