Rancho Tehama Shooters Motive Remains Unknown

A man whose motives are unknown gunned down four people and wounded ten others, apparently at random, before being killed by law enforcement in the small community of Rancho Tehama Tuesday morning. The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office says 43-year-old Kevin Jansen Neal was arrested in January for assaulting a woman with a knife. She was the first victim Tuesday. Beyond her, there didn’t seem to be any reasoning behind the chosen targets, according to Tehama County Sheriff Dave Hencratt. The shooting began at around 8AM at Neal’s home at the end of Bobcat Lane. After killing the woman he killed a neighbor and stole his roommate’s  pickup truck, then took to the road shooting at people. He opened fire on a woman who was driving her children to school. One child was injured and the mother might not survive her wounds, according to officials. He headed to the Rancho Tehama Elementary School firing shots along the way. The staff heard him coming and quickly got all the kids inside and locked the school down. When Neal got there he rammed the school’s gate and got out on foot with a semi automatic rifle and multiple magazines strapped to his tactical vest. Intent on a killing spree, he met only with frustration at the school, firing at least 30 rounds into the building and injuring one child but killing no one. He then got back on the road to find more victims. He intentionally rammed a car and shot the occupants, killing one. When someone stopped and asked if Neal was alright he shot at him too, and stole his car. Neal was eventually killed by a Corning Police Officer and a Tehama County Sheriff’s Deputy who intercepted him at a crossroads about 45 minutes after the ordeal began. There were 7 different shooting locations. No victims’ names have been released. Of the ten people hospitalized, three have been treated and released. Many politicians at all levels of government have offered their condolences and prayers, and the state’s flags have been ordered to fly at half staff.

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