On a summer afternoon in Chico, California, the quiet of the Butte County Library was shattered by an act of sudden and senseless violence that claimed the life of 46-year-old Jacob Cody Hull. On June 22, 2026, Hull, a man remembered by friends and family as quiet, kind, and possessing a wealth of knowledge on numerous subjects, was at the library with his girlfriend's 7-year-old daughter, a routine outing for a man who was a devoted father figure to the young girl.
He was an avid reader himself and was trying to instill that same love of books in her. That day, their peaceful visit ended in tragedy when a lone gunman opened fire, killing Hull and another patron.
The man identified by authorities as the shooter was 18-year-old Bradley Scott Sayer, a recent graduate of Chico High School. According to police reports, Sayer conducted a walkthrough of the library before returning to his vehicle to retrieve a shotgun. He then re-entered the building and began shooting. Jacob Cody Hull was one of his first victims, shot at the entrance of the library. Another man, 74-year-old Robert Johnson, was also killed inside. A young girl, the same one in Hull's care, sustained minor injuries from broken glass during the chaos. The rapid response of the Chico Police Department, who arrived on the scene within two minutes of the first 911 call, was credited with preventing further loss of life. Sayer was apprehended as he attempted to flee from the back of the building and was taken into custody without further incident.
In the aftermath of the shooting, details emerged about the suspect's possible motives. Investigators revealed that Sayer appeared to have an obsession with the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and that the attack may have been inspired by it. There was no known connection between Sayer and the victims. On June 25, 2026, Bradley Scott Sayer was arraigned in Butte County Superior Court on two counts of murder with special circumstances. He did not enter a plea at that time, and a further hearing was scheduled. The prosecution has stated its intent to seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the man accused of cutting short the life of Jacob Cody Hull and inflicting a deep wound on the Chico community. The case against Sayer is currently moving through the legal system.
