A gunman who entered a library in Northern California and opened fire Monday night was hoping to commit a massacre akin to the Columbine High School shooting, Chico police officials said.

The Chico Police Department received a 911 call at 5:12 p.m. about an active shooter inside the Chico Branch of the Butte County Library, police Chief Billy Aldridge said at an evening news conference. The call audio captured gunshots and screaming, he said.

Two adults were killed, and a child was taken to Enloe Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Police have identified the suspect as 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer. He was arrested and booked into Butte County Jail on two counts of murder, Chico police said in a Facebook post.

Authorities have determined Sayer acted alone and there is no indication that he had any prior connection to the victims in the library, according to the police.

“Sayer’s motivation appears to be founded in a desire to commit a Columbine High School massacre type of shooting,” the department said.

On April 20, 1999, two students launched an attack on students and faculty at Columbine High, ultimately killing 14 people and taking their own lives.

According to police, as officers entered the building Monday night, Sayer fled out the back and was taken into custody by officers who had set up a perimeter outside. The suspect used a single firearm as a weapon, and no shots were exchanged between the shooter and officers, Aldridge said.

A video captured by a civilian appeared to show police handcuffing a person lying on the ground in a grassy area outside the library.

Streets surrounding the scene at Sherman Avenue and East 3rd Street were closed “late into the night,” and members of the public were asked to stay away from the area while the investigation continues, Aldridge said.

The victims’ identities will be released Tuesday after their next of kin have been notified, police said.

“This evening was obviously very sad, traumatic for a lot of people, very traumatic for our community,” Aldridge said. “My heart and prayers go out to the families of those involved.”

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4911.

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