Kindergarten Victims of Feather River Adventist School Shooting, Obituary and Death of Two Innocent Children Aged Five and Six, Stemming from a Tragic Chain of Events Involving Untraceable Ghost Gun Sold by Jesse Kitagawa Jr.

The lives of two young children, aged five and six, were tragically cut short in an act of devastating violence on December 4, 2024, when a convicted felon, Glenn Litton, unleashed horror at the Seventh Day Adventist School in Oroville, California. The incident has sparked national outrage and raised critical questions about the proliferation of untraceable firearms, or “ghost guns,” as well as the loopholes that enabled their distribution.

Context of the Incident:

At approximately 1:09 p.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call reporting an active shooter at the Seventh Day Adventist School. Deputies responded within moments to a scene of terror and heartbreak. Litton, 56, critically wounded two kindergarteners before taking his own life as law enforcement arrived.

The Weapon:

The weapon used, identified as a Glock 19 ghost gun, was unregistered and assembled from parts, rendering it untraceable. These firearms have become increasingly popular among those looking to circumvent legal restrictions on gun ownership.

The Chain of Events:

• Ghost Gun Origin: The firearm components were originally owned by Steven Lyons, a 77-year-old resident of Buckeye, Arizona. Lyons had legally acquired the parts from the widow of the original owner in April 2024.
• Illegal Transaction: Lyons later sold the components to 45-year-old Jesse Kitagawa Jr. in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite Kitagawa’s status as a convicted felon and thus legally prohibited from owning or purchasing firearms, he managed to obtain the weapon using falsified documentation and a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Transfer to Litton: Shortly thereafter, Kitagawa sold the assembled firearm to Litton for $300 during a motel meeting in Chandler, Arizona. Evidence from a Phoenix gun range later confirmed Litton’s use of the weapon in practice sessions, where he also purchased ammunition.

Arrest of Jesse Kitagawa Jr.:

In a significant breakthrough, detectives from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Phoenix Police Department, executed a search warrant at Kitagawa’s residence on January 9, 2025. The search yielded overwhelming evidence linking him to the sale of the weapon to Litton. Kitagawa was arrested on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, with additional charges pending.

Law Enforcement Response:

Sheriff Kory Honea lauded the collaborative efforts between the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Phoenix Police Department. He emphasized the commitment to holding all responsible parties accountable and preventing similar tragedies in the future.

National Reactions:

This incident has reignited the national debate on gun control, particularly the regulation of ghost guns. Advocacy groups have called for stricter measures to close loopholes that allow prohibited individuals to acquire firearms.

Ongoing Investigation:

As the investigation continues, attention remains focused on tracing the broader network facilitating the distribution of untraceable weapons. Authorities are determined to dismantle the systems that enabled Litton’s acquisition of the firearm used in this heinous act.