'Natural selection': Teen walks in library with shotgun, starts blasting people, FBI says
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Left inset: Brad Sayer (Chico Police Department). Right inset: Jacob Hull (Facebook). Background: The library in Chico, Calif., where Brad Sayer allegedly killed Jacob Hull with a shotgun while he was shielding an 8-year-old girl during Sayer's deadly shooting rampage (KRCR/YouTube).
A California teen walked into a library with a shotgun and a T-shirt bearing the words "Natural Selection" — an ode to the Columbine High School shooting — and started blasting people, killing two, including a man who shielded an 8-year-old girl, cops say.
Bradley Sayer, 18, walked through the Butte County Library in Chico on Monday evening without a weapon before going out to his vehicle, retrieving a shotgun from the trunk, and going back inside, according to FBI officials and local police.
Friends and family told The Sacramento Bee that one of Sayer's victims was Jacob "Cody" Hull, a 46-year-old from Chico who died protecting his friend's daughter.
"Sayer had no known connection to the library or any of the victims," the Chico Police Department said in a press release Tuesday. "Based on information revealed during their interviews with the suspect, detectives believe he was influenced by Columbine High School shooting-type mass casualty events."
The shirt Sayer was wearing was similar to a shirt worn by Columbine shooter Eric Harris, which also had the words "Natural Selection" written on it, according to officials.
"Sayer fired approximately 8 total rounds from a shotgun during the course of the incident," the CPD release says. "One victim was struck directly outside of the library entrance, and the others inside the building."
Hull has since been hailed as a hero.
"I think a lot of people would like to think that they are capable of doing that, but that takes a lot," said Philip Brun, uncle of the girl Hull shielded. "I'm not sure we all have that."
Hull and the girl's mother had known each other for nearly 15 years, according to Brun, and he was alone with her at the library when Sayer walked in and opened fire.
"I think that the mental side of it probably hasn't hit her yet," Brun told the Bee. "That's a lot to process."
Sayer's father, David Sayer, told the San Francisco Chronicle that his son was a "shy little boy" who was "high-functioning" on the autism spectrum. He had just graduated from high school with honors on June 5.
"Brad has always been a delicate little flower," David Sayer claimed. "He's never harmed anybody. I can't say that anymore."
Brad Sayer was "never angry," according to his father. The two of them recently booked a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate his graduation. David Sayer said he spoke to him just two hours before the shooting and nothing stood out.
"I just feel horrible for the people that he shot," David Sayer said. "It's hard to think right now."
Police say they received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots and "screaming heard from within the Butte County Library" a little after 5 p.m., according to the CPD release. As officers arrived and approached the front doors, Brad Sayer allegedly exited from the east side of the building, where a perimeter had already been established, and was taken into custody without incident.
Hull was transported to the hospital and later succumbed to his injuries. A 74-year-old patron, Robert Johnson, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female juvenile was shot and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"She was treated and reunited with family," the CPD release says.
A search of Brad Sayer's vehicle, which was located in the library parking lot, reportedly uncovered two additional guns. "The source of the firearms in Sayer's possession is still being determined," the CPD release says.
FBI Special Agent Sid Patel told reporters that Brad Sayer "was a fan and a fan for some time of social media involving Columbine-type shootings" and "unfortunately made a deep dive into that social media community," according to the Chronicle.
"This 'natural selection,' we believe, is a reference to Eric Harris," Patel said. "[Brad Sayer] obviously lost his way in that and decided yesterday to act in copycat."
Brad Sayer is facing charges of first-degree murder and is expected to be charged with attempted murder, the Chronicle reports. He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Butte County.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
