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California School Shooter’s Motive Revealed as US Involvement in ‘Genocide of Palestinians’
Police officers work next to emergency vehicles at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, where a gunman shot and wounded two children aged 5 and 6 before shooting himself dead, near Oroville, in Palermo, California, US, Dec. 4, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. Photo: Fallon Ortiz via Reuters Connect.
A gunman who shot and wounded two kindergarten students at a private school in northern California on Wednesday left behind a note revealing the shooting was motivated by his opposition to “America’s involvement with genocide and oppression of Palestinians.”
The shooter — who authorities identified as Glenn Litton, 56 — opened fire in the playground of the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in the town of Oroville, injuring two children. Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, are in critical condition and will likely need surgery, according to police.
Litton was pronounced dead at the Oroville school shortly after the shooting. Authorities said the cause of death was most likely a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Thursday, law enforcement said that Litton had a long criminal history and suffered from mental health issues. Police also revealed disturbing writings believed to be from Litton which provided insight into the shooters motives.
One note indicated that opposition to US support for Israel’s defensive military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza was a motivation for the shooting.
“Countermeasure involving child executions has now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist school in California, United States by The International Alliance,” the note read. “I, Lieutenant Glenn Litton of the Alliance carried out countermeasure in necessitated response to America’s involvement with Genocide and Oppression of Palestinians along with attacks towards Yemen.”
Litton reportedly gained access to the Feather River’s campus by securing a meeting with its principal to discuss enrolling a nonexistent grandson. He used a fake name. Having avoided arousing suspicion, Litton followed the meeting by walking to the playground, where he opened fire.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is profoundly saddened following the shooting at the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School on December 4,” the North American Division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church said in a statement. “We pray for the entire school family and community as they grapple with this senseless violence. We ask that all people, no matter their faith, join us in prayer for everyone affected.”
It continued, “All levels of ministry are engaged in supporting members of our church and others in the community who are in crisis. We also wish to express our gratitude to the first responders, and for the competence and compassion of the local sheriff — who will lead a press conference with other local leaders this afternoon — and his team. We anticipate updates to continue to come from this official channel.”
Litton indicated that he considered committing violent attacks before, according to local CBS affiliate KOVR. In 2002, a law enforcement search of his home uncovered a “bulletproof vest and parts for a stun gun.” On his computer, they reportedly found that he had queried search engines for purchasing “guns and explosives” and written notes outlining a rough plan for a “mass incident with explosives.” Despite this incident and many others, Litton was repeatedly put back on the streets. He was arraigned on burglary charges just last month, according to the New York Post but granted his freedom after pleading not guilty.
“Our hearts go out to the students, staff, and families of the Feather River Adventist School,” Oroville Mayor David Pittman said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the two young boys who have been physically injured in this nightmare. The entire staff, students, and families have also been emotionally traumatized after this incident. Sadly, our schools must plan and train for these kinds of events and pray they never occur.”
He continued, “Our schools must be safe places. To the Feather River Adventist School staff, you and your students have suffered unimaginable trauma today. We, as a community, are here to support you through your healing. We thank you for your response after this incident and thank all first responders and agencies.”
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
The post California School Shooter’s Motive Revealed as US Involvement in ‘Genocide of Palestinians’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.