North California shooting death toll reaches five after wife's body found

By Alex Dobuzinskis

 

An undated booking photo of Kevin Neal of Rancho Tehama, California, involved in a shooting spree at multiple sites in rural northern California, provided November 15, 2017. Tehama County Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS

 

(Reuters) - The death toll in a shooting spree in rural Northern California rose to five after police discovered the body of the gunman's wife hidden in the couple's house, an assistant sheriff said on Wednesday.

 

The body of the wife of the gunman, Kevin Neal, was discovered late on Tuesday, hidden under a hole in the floor, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said.

 

Authorities believe Neal, 44, killed his wife on Monday, the day before he went on a rampage at multiple sites around the small community of Rancho Tehama, about 120 miles (193 km) north of Sacramento, killing four other people. Neal also opened fire at an elementary school before he was slain by police.

 

Johnston said many more people might have been killed if staff at the Rancho Tehama School had not locked Neal out. One child there was shot but survived, and others were hurt by flying glass and other debris from the hail of bullets.

 

"I really, truly believe that we would have had a horrific bloodbath in that school if that school hadn't taken the action when they did," Johnston told a news conference.

 

School employees locked the doors when they heard gunfire in the distance.

 

The employees ushered children inside from the playground, according to Sacramento television station KCRA, which cited details from the school district superintendent.

 

Neal, who was driving a pickup truck, rammed open a school gate, before a custodian leaned out from behind a building and distracted him, according to KCRA. Employees finished locking the doors seconds before Neal walked up and opened fire, the station reported.

 

Neal, frustrated at not being able to enter the school, drove off and was shot to death on the road by police, Johnston said.

 

Neal was armed with two rifles he illegally manufactured and two handguns registered to someone else, Johnston said, noting that he was prohibited from having firearms under a court-issued restraining order.

 

Authorities did not discover Neal's wife had been killed until Tuesday, after Neal shot his neighbours and drove around Rancho Tehama, killing four adults during a 25-minute shooting spree, Johnston said.

 

Authorities did not provide a possible motive for the rampage and did not identify those killed, citing the need to notify relatives.

 

On Wednesday, one adult injured in the shooting was hospitalized in critical condition, and a child and three other adults were in stable condition, Johnston said.

 

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-16

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Neal was armed with two rifles he illegally manufactured and two handguns registered to someone else, Johnston said, noting that he was prohibited from having firearms under a court-issued restraining order.

Can't wait to hear what the "guns don't kill people, people do" gang have to say once they get their heads around this (but I'm not holding my breath).

 

Their cousins that like to bang on about stricter gun ownership only enabling the "crazies, thugs and criminals" getting their hands on weapons are still working up a debatable standpoint (but you already know what they'll be saying).

Edited November 16, 20178 yr by NanLaew

This says it all about American logic...

he looks pretty stable in the photo.

10 minutes ago, marko kok prong said:

he looks pretty stable in the photo.

 

there's... something 'Mel Gibson' about him!!  ...or was it Nick Nolte - can't tell those two (three) apart

 

Edited November 16, 20178 yr by tifino

in America we have guns, in Thailand they have cars

3 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

he looks pretty stable in the photo.

like someone who has wondered into Nana Plaza for the first time

Edited November 16, 20178 yr by malibukid

This is just the latest nutjob,  to get some guns and go out and kill people until he was killed unfortunately he won't be the last.

Geezer 

Five killed?
Barely registers as a mass shooting these days ...

You know I'm right.

1 hour ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

This is just the latest nutjob,  to get some guns and go out and kill people until he was killed

unfortunately he won't be the last.

Geezer 

"....won't be the last .....this week."