2 kindergarten students are “extremely critical” after the school shooting.

• Two kindergarten students, ages 5 and 6, are in “extremely critical condition” after a shooting at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists just outside Oroville, California, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said in a news conference on Wednesday, December 23, confirmed . 4
• “I’m grateful they’re still alive, but they still have a long way to go,” Sheriff Kory L. Honea told reporters about the victims
• The suspect was found dead at the scene, authorities confirmed

Two kindergarten students are in “extremely critical condition” following a school shooting in California, authorities have confirmed.

On Wednesday, December 4, at approximately 1:08 p.m. local time, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to emergency calls for reports of an active shooter on the campus of the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists just outside of Oroville, Butte Das County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said in a press conference shared on Facebook.

The call was then transferred to the sheriff’s office about a minute later and deputies were dispatched.

Upon arrival shortly thereafter, a CHP officer “located an adult male” on campus. “This individual was deceased,” Honea said, adding that he appeared to have a “self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

The officer found a handgun near the man’s body and “secured that firearm,” Honea told reporters.

Honea confirmed that two kindergarten students, both boys ages 5 and 6, suffered gunshot wounds in the shooting and received immediate medical attention.

The sheriff added that officers “began searching the campus and classrooms to ensure no other individuals posed a threat to students or faculty.”

“They are currently in extremely critical condition and are being treated by medical personnel at a local hospital,” the sheriff said of the victims’ conditions.

“I’m grateful that they’re still alive, but they still have a long way to go and I certainly hope you all keep them in mind and pray as we move forward,” Honea added to reporters.

The sheriff said a school bus was eventually brought to campus and a total of about 35 students were transported to Oroville Church of the Nazarene, where they were reunited with their parents and family members.

He added that a “complex” investigation had been launched with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), adding that officials “believe they have identified the individual responsible for the shooting.” The suspect has not yet been named.

“We have received some information that he has made an appointment to visit the school and meet with an administrator. “His statement to school officials was that he wanted to explore the possibility of enrolling a family member as a student at the school,” Honea shared, adding that the suspect had a “friendly” meeting and that no concerns were raised at the time had been.

Honea said officials are working to determine whether the meeting was legitimate or whether it was a “ruse” to get onto campus.

“It was after that meeting that the shooting occurred, and after that it appears he took his own life,” the sheriff continued, adding that they believe the suspect visited the school because of its “connection to the Seventh -Day” could have “attacked” the Adventist Church.”

He also said he believed the shooting was an “isolated incident” at this point, but alerts had been sent out. Honea then told reporters that the person had arrived in an Uber and explained that the driver was now being interviewed.

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The Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said in a statement shared by CNN that it was “deeply saddened” by the shooting.

“Join us as we lift up these children and their families in prayer,” the message reads. “We are grateful for the brave officers of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department who acted quickly to protect our students.”

The Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for further information.