[WATCH] California: four dead after gunman tries to enter school

Police stopped the gun rampage as they rammed Kevin Neal's vehicle and fired shots

(Photo: Manila Bulletin News)
(Photo: Manila Bulletin News)

 

A gunman, who killed four people in a remote Northern California community on Tuesday morning, was stopped by police as they rammed his vehicle and exchanged shots, according to authorities.

Staff at Rancho Tehama Elementary school, west of Corning, moved quickly when they heard suspected gunfire nearby, just before classes were set to start, said Tehama County Assistance Sheriff Phil Johnston.

Doors were locked and students were rushed inside to hide beneath desks and tables.

The shooter, who was identified as Kevin Neal, was killed by police, rammed a stolen pickup vehicle through the school’s locked gate, walked into the schoolyard and fired his rifle through windows and walls.

He attempted to open doors but the buildings and doors were secured.

After about six minutes, the gunman left the premises, apparently frustrated.

According to the school district, a student was wounded by gunfire, but was in a stable condition and others were struck by broken glass.

Kevin Neal, identified as the gunman (Photo: NY Daily News)
Kevin Neal, identified as the gunman (Photo: NY Daily News)

"This individual shooter was bent on engaging and killing people at random. I have to say this incident, as tragic and as bad as it is, could have been so much worse," Johnston said, applauding the quick thinking of the school staff.

The gunfire that triggered the alert at the school came when the shooter fired from his vehicle into others while on his way to the school, about 2 miles from his home.

The gunman's precise motives were unclear, but a dispute with a neighbour who was found dead Tuesday may have sparked the rampage in which there were seven shooting scenes.

"This is an individual who armed himself, I think with the motive of getting even with his neighbours and when it went that far (that someone was killed) he just went on a rampage," Johnston said.

The killer apparently chose most of his victims at random, sometimes firing at passing motorists, homes and also gunning down someone after he purposely crashed into another car.

At least 10 people were wounded or hurt in the string of shootings in Rancho Tehama, about 125 northwest of Sacramento.

The gunman had a tactical vest with extra magazines for his guns, Johnston said, who viewed surveillance video of the shooting.

The wounded victims from the spree included a mother who was driving her children to school when the attacker opened fire on them "without provocation or warning," the assistant sheriff said.

The woman was being treated for life-threatening injuries. A child who was in the vehicle was not seriously wounded, according to Johnston.

A visibly shaken Johnston told reporters earlier: "This is a sad day for us here in Tehama County."