New York Daily News

Surgery, hope for li’l survivor

- BY JESSICA CHIA

A 6-YEAR-OLD boy who was shot twice at a Northern California elementary school was one of at least 10 wounded during a shooting rampage Tuesday.

Kevin Neal killed four people during the Tuesday mayhem in Rancho Tehama Reserve.

Alejandro Hernandez (photo inset) was shot in the chest and foot as Neal sprayed the Rancho Tehama Elementary School with up to 100 rounds, officials said.

While he’s expected to survive, Alejandro has already undergone one surgery on his foot and will go back under Wednesday for his chest, according to a GoFundMe page set up for his family.

Another boy was in the back of his mother’s car when he was shot. He survived the attack.

His mother did, too, but officials said she suffered “very lifethreat­ening” injuries.

Neal — who was out on bail for assault charges — reportedly rammed the gate at the school Tuesday morning before unloading an assault rifle at it for about six minutes.

Earlier, he killed the four people, one of whom he was accused of stabbing in January, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said. Their identities were not immediatel­y disclosed.

Neal then stole a white pickup truck and drove to the elementary school about 2 miles away.

Several children were also hurt by shattered glass, the local school district said in a statement. Quick-thinking officials l locked the d doors of the s school when t the gunfire b broke out, in a ““monument tal” move that s saved the l lives of countl less children, J Johnston s said.

Neal, who left the school after he couldn’t get in, crashed the stolen truck, carjacked another vehicle and continued his rampage until police fatally shot him, Johnston said.

“This man was very, very bent on completing what he set out to do,” the assistant sheriff said.

Police said Wednesday that Neal killed his wife a day ahead of the rampage. Relatives said he had mental health issues.

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