California school shooter bought a 'ghost gun' from Phoenix man, investigators say
PHOENIX - A Phoenix man was arrested after selling a "ghost gun" to a California school shooter, a sheriff's office said.
The school shooting in California's Butte County happened on Dec. 4 of last year at the Feather River Adventist School in Oroville, California. Deputies say Glenn Litton, 56, used a handgun to critically injure two kindergarten students, ages 5 and 6.
Litton took his own life while still at the school. Investigators say he was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal past, which made it illegal for him to own a gun.
Investigation into ‘ghost gun’ leads investigators to Arizona
"The handgun Litton used in the shooting was a Glock 19 ‘ghost gun.’ ‘Ghost gun’ receivers lack serial numbers, and can be assembled by individuals using gun parts from different firearms. BCSO detectives, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), analyzed the parts on the handgun and located evidence the handgun was previously owned by an individual who resided in Buckeye, Arizona. Detectives also located evidence Litton was in Phoenix, Arizona in April of 2024," the sheriff's office said.
In December 2024, BCSO detectives headed for Arizona after finding evidence that the gun was previously owned by Steven Lyons, 77, of Buckeye. Lyons reportedly bought the gun from the widow of the original owner after he died.
"The original owner purchased the firearm lawfully and the subsequent sale to Lyons was lawful under Arizona state law," investigators said.
Lyons then reportedly sold the gun to Jesse Kitagawa Jr., 45, of Phoenix on April 8, 2024. Investigators say Kitagawa Jr. is a convicted felon who cannot own guns.
Jesse Kitagawa Jr., 45, of Phoenix
"However, it appears that Lyons did not violate Arizona state law when he sold the firearm to Kitagawa, because Kitagawa has a driver’s license issued by the state of Arizona and assured Lyons that he could lawfully possess firearms," investigators said.
Two days later, detectives say Kitagawa told the gun to Litton, the school shooter, on April 10, violating Arizona law because he's a convicted felon.
A search warrant was executed at Kitagawa’s home in Phoenix and investigators learned Litton practiced shooting the gun at a Phoenix gun range. At the range, he reportedly bought ammo that was "consistent with the ammunition used during the shooting" at the California school.
Litton returned to California on a bus on April 19. About eight months later, the school shooting happened.
"During the service of the search warrant and subsequent investigation, detectives located evidence confirming Kitagawa purchased the handgun from Lyons. Detectives located additional evidence that Kitagawa met Litton at a motel in Chandler, Arizona in April of 2024, and sold the handgun to Litton for $300. Since Kitagawa is a convicted felon, and detectives located evidence he possessed and sold a handgun to Litton, Kitagawa was placed under arrest by Phoenix Police Department detectives for being a felon in possession of a firearm," BCSO said.
Kitagawa had a court hearing on Jan. 10. A judge found there was probably cause to issue a bond, and he's waiting for his next court date.
Charges are expected to be filed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.