Two Victims of a School Shooting, 5-Year-Old Elias & 6-Year-Old Roman, Are in Critical Condition – Details

Five-year-old Elias and six-year-old Roman Mendez are two kindergartners who were wounded during a school shooting at Feather River Adventist School in Palermo. Since the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, December 4, reports state that the two little boys are being treated at a Sacramento trauma center.

The sister of the six-year-old provided updates to Action News concerning her brother’s condition. Roman, who is receiving care at U.C. Davis Medical Center, had injuries on his back and chest, and doctors informed his family that he had a total of four wounds. However, the loved ones said they are unsure of whether a few of those injuries “were exit wounds.”

Thankfully, Roman’s sister divulged that the little boy’s surgeries have been successful, but he still faces a tough and lengthy recovery ahead. Action News also reports that Roman’s twin brother Armani Mendez, who also attends Feather Adventist School, bore witness to the shooting.

On the same day the shooting happened, Roman’s sister, Vanessa Diaz, took to Facebook with a tearjerking post showing a photo of Roman’s little arm hooked up to medical machines and covered with what appeared to be an arm brace.

In her caption above the picture, Vanessa disclosed the same details that she shared with Action News concerning the six-year-old’s successful surgeries. She also added that while Roman is in “critical condition,” he is “showing incredible strength.”

“Please keep him, our family, and all the other children and families affected in your thoughts and prayers. During this difficult time, I am trying to keep my other little brother’s spirits up as we navigate this together. 🤍✝️,” pleaded Vanessa at the end of her caption.

After seeing her post, a concerned netizen reached out to Vanessa, asking, “How’s your other brother was he shot too sending prayers to you and your family [sic].” In response to the query, Vanessa penned, “he was not but he witnessed it all 💔 thank you [sic].”

The day after the incident, Vanessa and the twins’ other sisters banded together to create a fundraising page on GiveSendGo to try and alleviate medical expenses. They attached a heartwarming photo of the two adorable boys playing in water.

In their message, they expressed, “While he is receiving the best possible care, this has turned our family’s world upside down, and we are struggling to navigate this unimaginable situation. As his sisters, we’re coming together to support him and his twin brother during this incredibly difficult time.”

Roman and Armani’s sisters then noted how they need funds to cover “proper clothing, medical care, therapy, and other essentials” for when Roman is discharged from the hospital. “Additionally, the costs of traveling to and from the hospital, along with hotel stays to remain close to him, are adding up quickly and are more than we can manage alone,” they added.

The twins’ sisters’ message also included a plea to the public for any donation, prayer, or kind words they can muster. They concluded, “Thank you for your love, support, and generosity. We are deeply grateful for anything you can do to help our little brother and family move forward from this tragedy.” Thus far, they have managed to raise a total of $10,249 out of their goal amount of $15,000.

Like Vanessa and her sisters, the grandmother of the other little boy involved in the shooting spoke out about the tragedy as well. A Facebooker named Orlando Carmona shared a message that little Elias’ grandmother Debbie Wolford had written about her grandson, which was accompanied by an adorable photo of the five-year-old.

Debbie asked the public to pray for her grandson, who at that time, had just been shot. “From what we are hearing he was airlifted to the hospital because he was shoot [sic] twice by a 9mm – once in the kidney and in the chest and had lost a lot of blood. He is in surgery right now 🙏🏻💔🙏🏻💔🙏🏻,” divulged Debbie.

Sometime after her first message, Debbie shared an update on Elias’ condition. She alerted the public that the little boy had come out of surgery and mentioned how he had a CT scheduled and would be transferred to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit).

She then shared that the bullet that injured Elias had gone through his stomach and lung and had “clipped a bit of the pancreas,” which prompted doctors to administer an exploratory laparotomy. Debbie also said that Elias had a chest tube before adding, “They may have to go back in later but he’s going to PICU for now.”

Like Orlando, another Facebooker named Les Potter shared Debbie’s full statement and wrote her own message, which reads, “Prayers for Elias tonight and for the other child that was shot in today’s school shooting at Feather River School of Seventh Day Adventists in Palermo.”

Yesterday, December 5, a woman named Stephanie Reynolds Bever shared that she has organized a candlelight vigil for the shooting victims today (Friday, December 6) at 5:15 p.m. at the Christmas Tree in Downtown Oroville.

“This is going to be lifting up the families and we want to speak the message that we believe in miracles, please bring all your positive energy and let’s unite! […] We will gather and lift these boys and their families up. From yesterday’s tragic incident. Elias & Roman. Please join our community [sic],” stated Stephanie.

Aside from the updates provided by Roman and Elias’ family members and the public, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea also addressed the situation yesterday.

After reiterating the conditions of both boys, the sheriff revealed, “We have positively identified the suspect and are diligently working to establish the motive.” He then noted how the police department would be hosting a press briefing.

During the briefing, Kory spoke about Elias and Roman being in critical condition and how they were transported to local hospitals after the shooting. “I’m thankful that they are still alive, but they have a long road ahead of them, and I’d certainly hope that you’ll all keep them in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward,” he said.

At another point during the conference, the sheriff shared details about the male shooter and the suspected reason for his actions. According to Kory, the perpetrator had booked an appointment with an administrator from the school to “explore the possibility of enrolling a family member as a student.”

The shooter met with the school administrator, and reportedly, the meeting was amicable and did not prompt any cause for concern. Kory then mentioned that a current goal of the investigation is to determine whether the attacker really did have a family member to enroll or if it was simply a ruse.

Following the meeting, the shooting occurred after which the shooter took his own life. The sheriff then disclosed, “We have received some information that leads us to believe that the subject responsible for the shooting targeted this school because of its affiliation with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.”

Kory said that with the current information he has at the moment he believes the shooting to be “an isolated incident,” however, he and his team have sent an alert out to law enforcement agencies throughout the state of California advising them of the shooting “out of an abundance of caution.”

He also advised such agencies that “the subject may have targeted this school because of its affiliation with that particular religious organization.” Police officials did this to ensure that the agencies remain vigilant and to make sure to protect students at such schools.

The sheriff also mentioned how enforcement has been in contact with leadership at the Seventh Day Adventist Church and other parties involved in overseeing the schools to make them aware of the incident for safety purposes.

He also revealed that after sharing how the shooter arrived at the school in a vehicle at the last press briefing, police have now uncovered the identity of the Uber driver who dropped him off. The sheriff said that the individual was being interviewed by investigators.

When the shooting, which reportedly occurred around 1 p.m., happened, students were evacuated to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, where they reunited with their parents. KCRA 3 News also reported that a sixth-grade student described seeing the gunman during the shooting, which occurred at recess.

Amid the incident, roads near the school remain blocked, and Highway 70 is closed in both directions in the area. The local authorities, in collaboration with the FBI, are investigating the incident, which is the latest shooting in the country following a similar one at Vancouver Mall.

In response to the shooting, Assemblyman James Gallagher, who represents Yuba City, released a statement expressing condolences and gratitude to first responders.

“My heart is breaking for everyone impacted by this tragedy. We will never understand why or how someone could do a thing like this. I am grateful for the bravery of the law enforcement, fire and medical personnel who responded to this attack to stop the shooter and rescue the victims. As a community, we’ll all be hugging our loved ones closer today as we pray for the victims and try to make sense of something so senseless,” he said.

Feather River Adventist School, a K-8 campus with 35 students enrolled, is located roughly 10 miles south of Oroville. According to the school’s official website, it integrates spiritual, academic, and physical development into a value-based curriculum.

Their curriculum includes unique hands-on programs, such as a greenhouse project where students cultivate and harvest strawberry plants. The website also describes the students as “respectful” and “friendly,” and highlights the staff as “professionals who really know how to reach the minds and hearts of children.”

The school operates under the guidance and direction of the Office of Education, North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.