California
California Storm: Power Outages, Wind, Rain | Weather.com
- At least three people were killed by falling trees in California.
- Rivers of mud rushed through streets in the Los Angeles area.
- An avalanche was reported in the Lee Canyon area of Nevada, about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
A powerful atmospheric river left at least three people dead in California, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and sent search-and-rescue crews scrambling to an avalanche near Las Vegas.
More than 10 inches of rain have fallen in some parts of California and wind gusts well over 100 mph have been reported in some higher elevations.
(MORE: Where We Expect The Rain To Continue)
The flooding is expected to persist into Tuesday, so here’s the latest news on the areas hit hardest.
Death Toll Increased To 3
At least three people were reported dead in the storm.
Among those who died were two men killed by fallen trees Sunday in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento, and in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. Police had previously confirmed the death of another man in Yuba City, about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco, who was found under a redwood tree in his backyard Sunday.
Update On Historic Rainfall Totals From Southern California
Downtown Los Angeles picked up 7.03 inches of rain Sunday and Monday, which ranks as the third-most for any two-day period on record for the city.
The highest rainfall total in the Los Angeles area is 11.81 inches in Bel Air.
Los Angeles City Reports Hundreds Of Mudslides
A report from the Los Angeles Fire Department says there had been 307 mudslides in its area of responsibility as of 4:15 p.m. local time on Monday. Thirty-five buildings will need to be inspected due to either mudslides or slope failures, and five buildings have been red-tagged, meaning no entry is allowed.
See The ‘Firehose’ In Action
When we talk about an atmospheric river, this satellite loop of moisture is a perfect example. Watch the way the “firehose” of moisture just points at one area of Southern California and stays locked in for hours. It’s the reason why some parts of the region got 10 to 12 inches of rain during this event.
Here’s The Scene In The Higher Elevations
In this photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, a truck is covered in snow in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
(Hudson Henry/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area via AP)
It wasn’t just the rain that fell near the coast – in the higher elevations, snow was plentiful, which was a welcomed sight to some ski areas. At Mammoth Mountain, up to 3 feet of snow fell in 24 hours, according to the ski resort’s website.
It was a much-needed boost to California’s snowpack, which was barely half of average a week ago.
Ski patrols were out surveying the slopes for any avalanche danger, and as a result, chairlift delays were expected at the resort.
Here were Monday’s updates as the storm pummeled the region:
(7:09 p.m. ET) The Rain Isn’t Over Yet
From weather.com digital meteorologist Madeline Scheinost: The heaviest of the rain will continue through Tuesday in parts of Southern California, with a flood threat continuing through tomorrow there. In the northern part of the state, showers are still lingering bringing a more localized flood threat.
See the full forecast here.
(6:57 p.m. ET) Everyone Safe In Nevada Avalanche
Las Vegas police just issued this update: “Four people were initially reported missing. Everyone has been located and is safe. We are currently assisting people off the mountain.”
(6:52 p.m. ET) Cars, Emergency Vehicles Stuck On Road At Lee Canyon After Avalanche
Cars and emergency vehicles are stuck and a line of traffic is backed up waiting to get out of Lee Canyon, according to a social media post.
(6:39 p.m. ET) Las Vegas Police Ask Public To Stay Away From Avalanche Area
The avalanche is in the Lee Canyon – Mt. Charleston area, according to an email from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.
“Residents and the public are urged to avoid the area,” the email said. “LVMPD Search and Rescue is responding due to several people being reported missing at this time.”
(6:02 p.m. ET) Several People Reported Missing In Lee Canyon, Nevada, Avalanche
From a social media post a few minutes ago by Las Vegas Metro Police: “Metro Police Search & Rescue is en route. We are trying to locate several people who are reported missing.
Conditions are hazardous due to the weather. Please avoid the area until the weather and conditions improve. We will have more information soon.”
(5:47 p.m. ET) Avalanche Reported In Nevada
Emergency officials are responding to an avalanche in Lee Canyon, Nevada. The exact location wasn’t clear, but the area is home to the Lee Canyon ski area, located about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
The area is under a winter storm warning until 10 p.m. local time Tuesday night.
A post on the ski area’s Facebook page earlier today noted 11.5 inches of new snowfall over the previous 24 hours.
“If you’re coming up to the mountain, anticipate delays & snow chain restrictions,” the post Drive carefully y’all.”
(5:11 p.m. ET) Storm Ramps Up Avalanche Danger
Avalanche warnings are in place for much of the Sierra Nevada.
From the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center: “Though snowfall rates peaked early last night, wind loading onto a snowpack with a weak base will continue to create very dangerous avalanche conditions today. Very large natural avalanches from above threaten the slopes below. Avoid being on or underneath steep terrain until the snowpack adjusts to the new load.”
Here’s what to know.
(4:49 p.m. ET) Evacuations Canceled For Santa Barbara County, Schools Reopening Tomorrow
Evacuation orders in Santa Barbara County were lifted at noon local time, or 3 p.m. ET. Residents are advised to be aware of road conditions and watch out for loose or fallings, according to the latest update from the county.
Most schools in the area will reopen tomorrow, with the exception of three that are still being assessed.
(4:28 p.m. ET) Climate Change Is Turbocharging Atmospheric Rivers
“These rivers of moisture in the atmosphere are not new and are vital to the West Coast as a major source of water and snowpack,” weather.com meteorologist Kait Parker says. “But 85 percent of flooding in this region is caused by atmospheric rivers.”
These kinds of storms are only expected to get more extreme as our atmosphere and oceans warm, pumping more moisture into the air.
Learn more from Parker here.
(4:15 p.m. ET) Still A Steady Rain
From weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman: While it’s not the type of heavy rain you’ll see in Florida in summer, rainfall rates in parts of L.A. County from near LAX to the San Fernando Valley are still from one-quarter to one-half inch per hour.
Even at those modest rates, this rain cannot soak into saturated ground. And those rates are high enough to trigger additional flooding, rockslides and debris flows.
A flash flood warning continues for the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood hills until 3 pm PT, or 7 p.m. ET.
(3:55 p.m. ET) Power Outages Drop Below 400,000
After peaking at nearly a million late Sunday night, the number of power outages reported statewide dropped to less than 400,000, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, the state’s biggest utility provider. Santa Clara County had the most outages, around 56,000.
(2:48 p.m. ET) Protect Yourself From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
With hundreds of thousands of power outages still being reported in California, it’s important to remember to never run a portable generator in any enclosed space or close to one. Doing so can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are some other ways to stay safe:
-Make sure you have battery powered carbon monoxide detectors in your home. The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends at least one per level, and that they be placed less than 10 feet from bedroom doors.
-Know the proper operating procedures for your generator.
-Position portable generators outdoors well anyway from any structure. Experts recommend at least 15 to 20 feet, but that can vary according to wind and other conditions.
-Inspect and test run your generator annually.
-Using outdoor grills or other alternative heating devices inside can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
(2:23 p.m. ET) Second Death Connected To Storm
A person was killed in Boulder Creek, near Santa Cruz, when a tree fell onto a home.
First responders were called to the scene around 3:20 p.m. local time Sunday.
“One resident made it out of the house but another was trapped inside,” Ashley Keehn, public information for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, told weather.com in a phone call a few minutes ago.
“Unfortunately the resident inside sustained injuries from the tree falling into the home and was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The death is the second confirmed to be connected to the storm. The first was in Yuba City, located north of Sacramento in Sutter County.
(1:58 p.m. ET) Rainfall Tops 10 Inches
Here are the latest rainfall numbers from Los Angeles County:
-Topanga, 10.8 inches
–Stunt Ranch, 10.75 inches
–Bel Air, 10.59 inches
-Woodland Hills, 10.4 inches
Cars sit buried by a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(1:50 p.m. ET) Resident Describes Moment Mudslide Hit Neighborhood
Travis Longcore, who lives in the Beverly Glen area of Los Angeles, told KTLA-TV a house near his was washed away.
“We heard a very loud rumbling sound and thought something exploded. But it was the house, probably powered by a debris flow, coming out into the road…it then hit another house and crushed a carport next to our property,” Longcore said.
No one was hurt, but the contents of the home – including a piano – were washed into the street.
“[The mudslide] sheared off the gas line … my neighbor was out and noticed the gas line and I was starting to smell it,” Longcore said “So, we all basically self-evacuated and the fire department came and evacuated another person who was unable to get out through her front door.”
(1:28 p.m. ET) It’s Not Just Rain
Snow is piling up in higher elevation ski areas as the storm moves through. These are some of the highest 24-hour totals:
–Mammoth Mountain, 33 inches
–June Mountain Ski, 31 inches
–Northstar Ski, 27 inches
(1:04 p.m. ET) Shelters Open Around Los Angeles
At least seven shelters are open in the Los Angeles area. Five are for affected residents and two are for large animals including horses and livestock. The city’s Emergency Management Department has this map listing the locations, as well as area road closures and evacuations.
(12:48 p.m. ET) Dangerous Weather Heading East
From weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly: “The heavy rainfall and flooding in Southern California will move into Arizona Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall up to 1.5 inches is possible in some areas, with excessive runoff causing flooding along creeks and streams. Road closures are likely and residents should remain alert.”
(12:35 p.m. ET) Power Outages Dropping
About 500,000 power outages are being reported statewide, down from nearly a million late last night, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, California’s largest utility provider.
“PG & E has more than 3,000 employees engaged in this event to assess damage, make repairs and handle emergency calls, and hundreds more staffed in emergency operations support centers across our service area,” the company said in a news release.
“Members of the public should use caution and remain vigilant for hazards including weakened trees, flooding and downed power lines.”
A garage door is seen damaged by a storm, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Studio City, California.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(12:20 p.m. ET) Los Angeles Resident: ‘I Can’t Believe It’
Keki Mingus, who lives in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, told The Associated Press she received a text Sunday night alerting her that a nearby home was in trouble.
“Mud, rocks and water came rushing down through their house and another neighbor’s house and into our street,” Mingus said as water continued to rush down the road around dawn on Monday. “I can’t believe it. It looks like a river that’s been here for years. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Mud and debris are strewn on Fryman Road during a rain storm, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Studio City California.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(12:06 p.m. ET) Latest Photos Show Damaged Vehicles, Mud Rushing Down Streets
Los Angeles
Jeffrey Raines clears debris from a mudslide at a parent’s home during a rainstorm, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Studio City
A car is damaged by debris from a storm, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Studio City, California.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(11:20 a.m. ET) Water Rushes Through Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Video posted by the garden shows a muddy torrent of water from Mission Creek rushing over a historic dam yesterday.
The area is normally accessible by walking, but was closed due to the weather.
“However, thanks to the work of our grounds crew and volunteers, trails and areas along the creek are holding up and there is no damage to the garden,” an update posted to social media.
Portions of the garden will reopen today.
(10:51 a.m. ET) Sierra Nevada Winds Gust Up To 162 MPH
“The Sierra Nevada is known for some prolific wind gusts in these kinds of storms, but this is impressive even by those standards,” weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce says.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range runs along the California-Nevada border and includes Mt. Whitney and Yosemite National Park.
Here’s a look at some of the peak wind gusts at the highest elevations in the region:
–Alpine Meadows/Ward Mountain, 162 mph
–Palisades Tahoe/Siberia, 148 mph
–Mammoth Mountain Summit, 125 mph
(10:20 a.m. ET) Mud And Debris Flows Force Residents From Homes In Los Angeles
More than a dozen people had to be evacuated from the Laurel Canyon area as a rushing torrent of rocks, mud and other debris flowed down a hill on a residential street.
The Weather Channel’s Justin Michaels is on the scene.
(10:08 a.m. ET) 10 People, Including A Baby, Rescued From Vehicles
First responders pulled several people from vehicles stuck on a flooded road in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles County, KCAL-TV reported. Those rescued included a baby.
Rescues were ongoing in the area overnight. Besides flooding, boulders and mud also blocked some roads.
Evacuation orders were in place in the area due to fears of mudslides and debris flows in wildfire burn scar areas.
(9:15 a.m. ET) These Are The Top Rain Totals So Far
Some staggering rainfall totals are coming in from the National Weather Service, and there’s plenty more rain on the way. These are two-day totals:
-Topanga Canyon: 9.94 inches
-Stunt Ranch: 9.86 inches
-Sepulveda Canyon: 9.57 inches
-Woodland Hills: 9.29 inches
-Bel Air: 9.25 inches
(8:50 a.m. ET) Rescues Ongoing Amid The Floods
Dangerous conditions have prompted more water rescues in parts of Southern California. In areas where burn scars from past wildfires are still present, mudslides and debris flows have also occurred.
We have new visuals coming in from the areas hit hardest; meteorologist Domenica Davis walks you through it all here.
(8:25 a.m. ET) As Santa Barbara Flooded, Police Went Door-To-Door
As roads became swamped and creeks were overwhelmed with flood water, some police in Santa Barbara needed armored vehicles to traverse the flooded roads and go door-to-door to evacuate residents, NBC News reported. This was occurring last night.
Several parts of the city were placed under mandatory evacuations as the flooding worsened.
A police officer notifies a resident of rising floods during a rainstorm, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
(AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
(8 a.m. ET) California Storm, By The Numbers
102 mph: Top wind gust report. This was clocked on Sunday at Pablo Point in Marin County.
9.86 inches: Top rainfall report at Stunt Ranch Reserve in the Santa Monica Mountains at 1,305 feet in elevation.
6 feet: This is the upper range of how much snow was expected to fall in the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada. No totals this high have been measured yet, but this is what the forecast called for.
(7:40 a.m. ET) Authorities Confirm Death In Yuba City
In a social media post late Sunday night, the Yuba City Police Department confirmed that a man was killed when a redwood tree fell on top of him. It was the first death confirmed to be caused by the atmospheric river storm striking California.
“Paramedics began lifesaving measures, however, the male was never revived,” said the police department. Through the investigation, it appeared he was possibly using a ladder to try and clear the tree away from his residence when it fell on him.”
It’s believed that the tree fell some time around 5 p.m. local time Sunday.
“This was an unfortunate accident and our condolences are with the male’s family and friends,” the post also read.
(7:15 a.m. ET) Where’s The Biggest Concern This Morning?
From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:
The most persistent rain through the morning rush hour will be over much of the Los Angeles metro area. In particular, locations from the Santa Monica Mountains eastward through Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills areas are seeing the most serious flooding, which is where 5 to 9 inches of rain has fallen, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a “particularly dangerous situation” flash flood warning.
Locations farther south, from around downtown Los Angeles to around Oceanside, are in flood advisories for light to moderate rainfall. Commuters this morning could see flooded roads and should avoid driving through any floodwaters.
(6:30 a.m. ET) Nearly 600,000 Customers Still Without Power
Though the numbers declined overnight, some 587,000 homes and businesses are still in the dark across California, according to PowerOutage.us.
If you’re ever facing a power outage, these tips will be very helpful to remember.
(5:30 a.m. ET) Los Angeles Picks Up A Month’s Worth Of Rain In One Day
Downtown Los Angeles was soaked by 4.1 inches of rain on Sunday. That’s more than the city averages in the entire month of February (3.64 inches). It was also enough to clinch their third-wettest February day on record.
Over the last two days, L.A. has recorded 5.48 inches of rain. The city needs at least 5.58 inches of rain to clinch one of their 10 wettest two-day stretches on record.
(5:09 a.m. ET) ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Flash Flood Warning In Effect
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued this urgent flash flood warning for the Hollywood Hills area and near the Santa Monica Mountains until 9 a.m. local time. A report from the NWS stated there was excessive street flooding in the area with multiple vehicles floating in the Hollywood Hills to Sherman Oaks and Studio City areas.
(5:00 a.m. ET) More Than 100 Reports Of Flooding, Landslides
Since this storm began, there have been at least 101 reports of flooding and landslides submitted to the National Weather Services across the state of California. The blue icons in this map below show where those flooding and landslide reports are located.
You can read our updates from Sunday here.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives.
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Residents in a neighborhood in Southern California said that their homeowners association has threatened to fine them if they don’t take down the American flags displayed outside their homes.
Amy and Chris Cooke and their neighbor Terri Collins live in San Marcos, which is located in San Diego County.
They said that they could potentially face a $100 fine if they keep the flags displayed outside their homes, according to the Daily Wire.
“I’m not taking my flag down,” Collins said. “They can fine me, $100, $200, $1,000, I’m not paying it.”
Collins said that the neighborhood is very patriotic because it is located close to the former Miramar Navy Air Station.
She said that “all the Top Gun pilots lived here.”
The neighbors said that ever since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, the HOA has enforced the rule about flags.
“Once the members allow use of a common property by an owner to express what is essentially a political or affiliative view in a flag, other owners will want to do the same and the common area will degrade,” a letter from the HOA reads.
Homeowners were told that flags displayed in “exclusive use” areas like backyards.
An HOA attorney told the Daily Wire HOAs “count on the fact that homeowners don’t know better and might be scared.”
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
“I would tell these people to stand firm and under no circumstances should they remove that flag,” he told the outlet.
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed his final state budget as governor, a $351.7-billion spending plan that seeks to uplift the poorest Californians through a tax system reliant on the stock market gains of the wealthy.
In a video message, Newsom extolled free school meals, universal transitional kindergarten, 130,000 subsidized childcare slots and other accomplishments in his tenure at the state Capitol, a period in state history marked by a dramatic expansion of state government and over $100 billion in increased spending.
“Over the past eight years, we built great things for the people of California — some of the boldest actions any government in this country has taken in a generation,” Newsom said. “And we did this without breaking the bank. We did this by design.”
The agreement ends weeks of lobbying by outside interests and negotiations among lawmakers and the governor at the state Capitol about how to handle a surge of income tax collected on stock market gains related to artificial intelligence.
Economists have warned that the revenue bump is potentially temporary and analysts say the growth in state spending could leave California in a challenging position if the economy declines.
Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Fresno) agreed with Democrats that the budget is “compassionate.”
“My fear is that it’s not too much of a competent budget, and the budget continues a pattern that Californians know all too well: Spend now, justify it later, and hope somebody else pays the bill,” he said during a floor debate Monday.
Here’s what you need to know about the spending plan, which takes effect July 1.
Who decides the state budget?
The simplest answer is: Democrats. California voters have elected Democrats to represent 30 of the 40 seats in the Senate and 60 seats of the 80 seats in the Assembly. The budget was passed through a majority vote in each house of the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat.
A more complex answer is that the budget is a product of dozens of legislative hearings, millions of dollars spent on lobbying by outside interests, talks among lawmakers and the governor and ultimately subject to the same political dynamics that rule the Democratic party.
Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón (D-Goleta) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), in consultation with the chairs of the budget committees, represent their Democratic caucuses and reach a final agreement on the details of the spending plan with Newsom. In reality, staff members for the three parties handle most, if not all, of the back of forth negotiations to get there.
Union leaders seeking better pay, working conditions, benefits for workers and opportunities to expand their ranks are often brought in to consult or hammer out thorny deals as business groups try to fight off more regulations, taxes and costs, and support policies that increase their financial performance.
Democrats are spending more than ever before. How is that possible?
The Legislative Analyst’s Office, the nonpartisan fiscal advisor for lawmakers, recently examined the increase in state spending since 2019-20, Newsom’s first full year in office.
Between the budget approved that year and the spending proposal Newsom unveiled in January, spending from the state’s main operating fund had grown by over $100 billion, or 70%. That was largely by a 60% increase in revenue during that time. California typically operates with a spending deficit because Democrats spend more money than the state brings in.
The LAO found that the increase in spending stemmed from the growing cost of sustaining programs and services that were already in place when Newsom took office. About 30% of the remaining spending growth was categorized as new, either by newly created programs or the expansion of existing services.
Among the report’s conclusions: California could not afford the programs that predated Newsom and the ones he and the Legislature adopted.
To balance the budget over the last few years, Newsom and lawmakers have dipped into the state’s reserves at a time when California is experiencing strong revenue growth, which the LAO has cautioned against. Democrats have also increased taxes on businesses, paid for programs out of other funds and suspended reserve deposits among other solutions.
This year, the state budget places $6.4 billion in higher than expected revenue into a temporary holding account to knock down a deficit and balance the budget through 2027-28.
Democrats are pursuing a change to the state constitution on the November ballot that would allow them to set aside more money in years of good revenue growth to prevent cuts in future downturns.
Where is the money going?
Education and Medi-Cal are the two largest costs for the state.
Medi-Cal is the state’s version of subsidized health insurance for low-income Californians and provides medical, dental and vision care for an estimated 14.5 million people, or about one-third of the state population.
The federal government pays for more than half of the cost of the program. California is expected to spend about $50 billion from the general fund next year out of a total estimated at more than $220 billion in costs shared between the state and federal government, according to the LAO. State taxes and fees on providers also help fund Medi-Cal.
Overall, Medi-Cal costs more than any other state program and takes up about 40% of total spending, including federal funds the state receives, according to the LAO.
Spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled over the last 10 years, which the LAO attributes to an increase in costs per enrollee, more enrollees and a greater share of seniors seeking care, among other factors.
Under Newsom, California has expanded Medi-Cal, including offering coverage to include all immigrants regardless of their immigration status, which the governor said has dropped the state’s uninsured rate down to 5.9%
The cost of Medi-Cal has grown beyond what Democrats expected and resulted in Newsom suggesting spending cuts.
The final budget agreement rejects a call by Newsom to lower the asset limit to $2,000 now and instead lowers it to $21,000 in 2027-28 to be eligible for Medi-Cal. The Legislature also delayed the governor’s proposal to reduce dental coverage and shift asylum seekers and other immigrants to restricted scope Medi-Cal, according to Jason Sisney, the lead budget advisor for the Assembly who posts about the budget on Substack.
The budget includes Newsom’s proposal to shift enrollees with unsatisfactory immigration status, a term that includes undocumented immigrants and others, from managed care to fee-for-service to save costs.
Under Proposition 98, approved by voters in 1988, California has a minimum funding guarantee for schools and community colleges and dedicates roughly 40% of general fund revenue to education.
Sisney said the budget increases the Local Control Funding Formula by $2.2 billion and provides historic general fund per pupil spending of $21,148. Support for special education also grew by $1.8 billion.
The California Community Schools Partnership Program received a $1-billion boost and Democrats directed $2.8 million in additional funding to the program that provides free meals for school children.
The budget also establishes 22,770 new slots for free or reduced childcare, which Newsom had proposed decreasing.
OROVILLE — Bradley Scott Sayer was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and discharge of firearm with injury during his arraignment Thursday at the Butte County Superior Court.
Sayer, 18, is the suspect in the Chico library shooting on Monday in which two men were killed, and he could face life in prison. If convicted, Sayer is facing the highest penalty for capital murder with special circumstances, which would be life in prison without the possibility of parole. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, who is the prosecutor of the case, said the court is not seeking the death penalty.
Sayer was not given bail, as Ramsey said the court felt Sayer was “too dangerous.” Ramsey also said Sayer is on suicide watch in at the Butte County Jail.
“We felt that it would be too dangerous to let him go at this juncture,” Ramsey said. “He planned a mass shooting, and there’s no reason to believe that if he was let go, that he wouldn’t continue to do that.”
Sayer was staying at his father’s house, who was out of town, the day of the shooting, according to Ramsey. He then went to the closet in his father’s room and took two .22 caliber rifles and a 20-gauge shotgun, as well as several boxes of “No. 3 birdshot shells” before leaving for the library.
Sayer will appear in court next at 8:30 a.m. July 16 at the Butte County Superior Court, where he is expected to enter a plea. He is being represented by Roberto Marquez as retained counsel.
Autopsies
The Chico Police Department released a final update regarding the shooting case. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office completed the autopsies of both Jacob Cody Hull and Robert Johnson.
“The autopsies were completed; results indicate that both victims died as result of gunshot wounds. The wounds are consistent with a shotgun being used. The decedents will be turned over to their families who will be making funeral arrangements. The suspect remains in custody at the Butte County Jail being held in isolation,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said.
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