Northern California Shooting Wasn't Random: Report

RED BLUFF, CA -- A Northern California man who went on a shooting rampage this week, killing five people and injuring 10 others, including children, chose his victims, according to reports. The Tehama County District Attorney and a neighbor of the gunman told newspapers that they believe the shooting was not random despite a statement by law enforcement.

Neal reportedly started his shooting rampage at a home in the rural community about 130 miles north of Sacramento before he entered the Rancho Tehama Elementary School where he shot at multiple classrooms. Neal then took his shooting spree back on the road where he was eventually killed by two deputies in a shootout. The entire spree lasted about 45-minutes and injured 10 people, seven of whom were children, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said.

During a press conference, Johnston told the public the shooting was random.

But in an email to The Los Angeles Times, District Attorney Gregg Cohen's Office said he disagreed.

“Mr. Cohen stated that his opinion/belief was that Neal didn’t pick the school randomly based on his belief that Neal knew that one of his neighbor victim’s grandsons attended the elementary school and also some hearsay that Neal was upset at someone who worked at the school,” a statement to The Los Angeles Times read.

Cohen isn't the only person who feels this way. Johnny Phommathep, a neighbor of Neal's whose wife and kids were injured in the shooting, told SFGATE.com that he believed the gunman went to the school to kid a neighbor's child.

Phommathep said Neal told Danny Elliot he'd kill his son. Neal did not kill Elliot's son during his Tuesday morning rampage but did kill Elliot and his mother, Diana Steel, according to the SFGATE.com.

The two statements come after it was revealed that Neal was prohibited from owning guns. He was also prohibited from being near one of the neighbors that he killed.

Also See: California Gunman's Wife Found Dead; Shooter Had Long Rap Sheet

--Photo credit: Tehama County Sheriff via AP