California authorities say a man who critically wounded two school children in a Dec. 4 shooting before taking his own life suffered from mental illness and had been sentenced to prison when he was a Carson City resident.
The former Carson City resident, Glenn Litton, 56, was identified as the person who shot two Feather River School of the Seventh-day Adventists kindergarten boys, aged 5 and 6 in Palermo, Calif., in Butte County. They remain hospitalized.
Litton had a criminal history of theft and property crimes, had mental health complications and a history of being homeless, authorities said.
In August 2015, Litton was sentenced to two years in prison by a federal judge for aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Court documents show that on Nov. 19, 2014, Litton submitted an application for a U.S. passport to a passport acceptance officer in Sacramento. In the application, Litton used the identity of another individual, including that individual’s name, birthdate, and Social Security number.
Litton also presented supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, a debit card, and employment ID card bearing the name of the individual whose identity he had assumed. As a result of the application, Litton was issued a U.S. passport in a false name.
At the time of the shooting, Litton was living in several motels in Chico for a few months after living off the streets of Sacramento, authorities said.
According to local police, Litton targeted the school due to the religious affiliation with the Church of the Seventh-Day Adventists.
A statement found on Litton’s body said he intended to perform “child executions” in response to “America’s involvement with Genocide and Oppression of Palestinians along with the attacks towards Yemen” and believed that there was a connection with the church and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, authorities said.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference that the shooting is believed to be an isolated incident and he was a sole individual who targeted the school based on the beliefs that he held.
