Injured Kindergarteners from Christian School Shooting Begin to Recover

Two young boys critically wounded in last week’s tragic shooting at Feather River Adventist School in Oroville, California, are showing signs of improvement after undergoing surgery. The attack, which targeted the Christian school, left the community reeling but united in prayer and support for the victims and their families.

Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, were shot on Wednesday when a man entered the school under the pretense of enrolling his grandson. Authorities later revealed that the suspect, a 56-year-old with a criminal history and mental health issues, had planned to commit “child executions” in response to what he called “America’s involvement in Genocide and Oppression of Palestinians.”

Miracles Amid Heartbreak

Both boys have shown signs of recovery, with their families sharing updates on their progress:

• Elias Wolford: The 5-year-old, who remains in critical condition, has been resting heavily since surgery but managed to speak to his father. “This has shattered his childhood,” said his aunt, Tawnee Preisner, adding that the trauma extends to the entire school.

• Roman Mendez: According to his sister, Vanessa Diaz, Roman is now awake and breathing on his own. His first words after having tubes removed were, “Where is Elias?”

The town of Oroville, population 20,000, began its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday with a prayer vigil for the boys, led by Pastor Kenn Malone. “No matter where you go, there’s evil and there’s bad people, but there’s a whole lot more good,” Malone said.

A Targeted Hate Crime

Authorities believe the attack was religiously motivated, with the shooter targeting the school because of its Christian affiliation. “They were targeted because of their religion,” Preisner noted. “Nobody should ever have to go through this.”

The shooter, who had a long criminal history including theft, fraud, and forgery, turned the gun on himself after wounding the boys. District Attorney Mike Ramsey indicated that hate crime charges would likely have been filed had he survived.

The shooter was homeless, frequently moving between Chico and Sacramento, and was recently arrested for stealing a U-Haul truck. Despite his record, he was released from jail just days before the shooting, sparking fresh outrage over California’s lenient bail and release policies.

Community Response

The Oroville community has rallied around the families of the young victims, emphasizing faith, love, and resilience in the wake of the tragedy. While the road to recovery will be long, the boys’ progress has inspired hope.

As America grapples with the growing prevalence of targeted violence, stories like this highlight the need to protect vulnerable communities and address failures in the justice system that allow dangerous individuals back onto the streets.

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