On December 4, 2024, at approximately 1:09 p.m., a chilling event unfolded at the Seventh Day Adventist School on Cox Lane in Oroville, California. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office was alerted via a 911 call about a shooting incident at the school, where deputies responded swiftly, arriving within a minute to a scene marked by tragedy.
The investigation revealed that Glenn Litton, a 56-year-old man with a known criminal background, carried out the attack. Litton, who was legally barred from possessing firearms due to his status as a convicted felon, used a Glock 19 "ghost gun" to shoot two young kindergarten students, aged five and six, before turning the weapon on himself upon the arrival of law enforcement. The term "ghost gun" refers to firearms assembled from parts kits that do not bear serial numbers, complicating efforts to trace them back to their origins.
The firearm's journey to Litton was traced back through several hands, starting with Steven Lyons, a 77-year-old from Buckeye, Arizona, who legally acquired the gun from the widow of its original owner in April 2024. Lyons then sold the gun to Jesse Kitagawa Jr., 45, of Phoenix, Arizona, who, like Litton, was also a felon prohibited from owning firearms. This sale was facilitated under false pretenses, with Kitagawa presenting a valid driver's license but misleading Lyons about his legal eligibility to own a gun.
The transaction between Lyons and Kitagawa did not violate Arizona law at the point of sale, as Lyons had no legal obligation to verify the buyer's eligibility beyond the presented identification. However, Kitagawa's subsequent actions were illegal. On April 10, 2024, he sold the firearm to Litton for $300 in a meeting at a motel in Chandler, Arizona. Litton then transported the gun back to California by Greyhound bus and practiced at a Phoenix gun range, where he also bought the ammunition used in the Oroville shooting.
Following these discoveries, on January 9, 2025, detectives from the Butte County Sheriff's Office, alongside the Phoenix Police Department, conducted a search at Kitagawa's residence in Phoenix. The search yielded evidence that confirmed Kitagawa's illegal possession and sale of the firearm to Litton. Consequently, Kitagawa was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm. During his court appearance on January 10, 2025, probable cause was established, and he was held on bond, with further charges expected from the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office.
Sheriff Kory Honea publicly acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the FBI, which assisted in tracing the firearm, and the Phoenix Police Department in this investigation. He praised the dedication of his department's detectives, emphasizing their role in unraveling the chain of events that led to this tragedy. "The arrest of Kitagawa demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who unlawfully assisted Litton in carrying out his evil plan," Sheriff Honea stated.
This case not only highlights the dangers posed by ghost guns and the challenges in regulating their circulation but also showcases the critical role of inter-agency cooperation in addressing gun violence. As the legal proceedings against Kitagawa progress, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such acts of violence in the future. The community of Oroville, along with the nation, continues to grapple with the implications of this incident, reflecting on the broader issues of gun control, mental health, and criminal justice.
