The teenager accused of fatally shooting two people at the Chico Public Library flashed a "white power" hand symbol during his first court appearance Thursday, officials said. Bradley Scott Sayer, 18, faces two murder charges with special circumstances.
During his arraignment at Butte Superior Court in Oroville, Sayer, who was shackled and wearing jail attire, made the gesture as he entered the courtroom. Prosecutors are seeking life without parole for Sayer, though additional charges may be filed. He did not enter a plea.
Authorities stated that Sayer was obsessed with the Columbine High School massacre and had written "Natural Selection" on his shirt, mimicking one of the Columbine shooters. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey described Sayer as a "fan" of such shootings, noting his deep immersion in related social media communities.
According to investigators, Sayer conducted a walkthrough of the library before retrieving a shotgun from his car, intending to attack a populated, confined location. He allegedly first shot 46-year-old Jacob Hull in the leg before shooting him in the head. A juvenile female accompanying Hull was also injured. Sayer then entered the library and fatally shot 74-year-old Robert Johnson in the head.
Library staff evacuated patrons to safety while Sayer fled the scene. He was apprehended by law enforcement outside the building without incident. The entire event, from the first 911 calls to Sayer's arrest, lasted approximately four minutes. Police recovered the shotgun used in the attack, along with two other firearms found in Sayer's vehicle.