California shooting: Teachers hailed heroes for barricading children in school during terrifying rampage

'God bless you for saving those kids'
FBI agents are seen behind yellow crime scene tape outside Rancho Tehama Elementary School.
AFP/Getty Images
Francesca Gillett15 November 2017

Teachers who blockaded their school against a gunman during a mass shooting in northern California have been hailed heroes for risking their lives to save the students.

Four people are dead following the killer’s horrific 45-minute rampage in the rural community of Rancho Tehama on Tuesday.

He shot dead his neighbour, with whom he had been feuding, before heading to a primary school.

But the death toll “could have been so much worse”, the assistant police sheriff said, if it had not been for the quick-thinking staff at the Rancho Tehama Elementary School who put the building on lockdown.

Staff locked the doors, barricaded themselves inside and told students to hide beneath desks and tables as gunfire rang out.

At least one child was wounded at the Rancho Tehama Elementary School
AP

The shooter repeatedly tried doors but was unable to get in. He stayed outside for six minutes, spraying bullets into the building.

Witnesses reported hearing children screaming in the school, which is small with one class of children in each year. It teaches children aged between five and 11.

One child suffered a gun wound and others were hurt by flying glass, CNN reported.

Investigators inspect a pickup truck involved in a deadly shooting rampage at the Rancho Tehama Reserve.
AP

Scores of people have praised the fast actions of the school staff.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said it was "monumental" that school workers took the action they did and there is no doubt in his mind they saved the lives of countless children.

On social media, Cort Mitchell said: “Everybody on Rancho Tehama staff, classified and certificates, are heroes. Lives were saved because they risked theirs.”

Phil Johnston, the assistant sheriff for Tehama County.
AP

Jennifer M. Greenberg tweeted: “To the teachers and staff at Rancho Tehama Elementary School, and the police who took down the shooter, God bless you for saving those kids.”

Another internet user said: “Kudos to the staff. They saved a lot of lives with their readiness discipline,” while Tim Miller added: “Proud of Rancho Tehama staff that saved countless lives by going immediately into lockdown. You are among today’s heroes.”

The shooter went on a spree on various sites around Rancho Tehama, which is about 200km from Sacramento.

Police officers stand near the crime scene in Rancho Tehama.
AFP/Getty Images

He killed four people and injured at least 10 before police fatally shot him. The school pupil who was shot is expected to survive.

"It was a bizarre and murderous rampage," said Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston.

Johnston said the killer had been facing charges of assaulting one of his neighbours – who he is thought to have killed during the rampage - in January and she had a restraining order against him.

"I think the motive of getting even with his neighbours and when it went that far - he just went on a rampage," Mr Johnston said.

Mr Johnston said the shooter was armed with a semiautomatic rifle and two handguns at seven locations.

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