Two children were also shot and wounded, he confirmed.
The shooting started shortly after 8 a.m., according to a Tehama County sheriff's deputy, who confirmed two children have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
"It's a very sad day for us in Tehama County," said the unnamed deputy, who was visibly shaken by events.
There were at least 100 law enforcement officers at the scene, the deputy said.
"Multiple shots were fired in Rancho Tehama. That evolved into multiple victims and multiple shots at the school," said the deputy. "I am told the suspected shooter is deceased from law enforcement bullets."
Brian Flint said he got a call in the morning that his roommate was injured and that his truck had been stolen. It turned out his neighbor was the gunman, Flint said.