At least one gunman, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas killing 10 people and injuring 10 more. The school district has also announced that multiple explosive devices had been found and were being dealt with by law enforcement.
Sometime between 7:30 and 7:45 CDT Friday morning, shooting started in an art class. Students were evacuated and the school went on lockdown.
“We thought it was a fire drill at first but really, the teacher said, ‘Start running,'” student Leila Butler said.
The gunman used a .38 special revolver and a shotgun that belonged to his father.
President Donald Trump offered his condolences.
“We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack,” the president said. “To the students, families, teachers, and personnel at Santa Fe High, we’re with you at this tragic hour.”
"We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack. To the students, families, teachers, and personnel at Santa Fe High, we're with you at this tragic hour…" pic.twitter.com/kyjs1tWYUD
— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) May 18, 2018
Santa Fe is roughly 35 miles southeast of Houston.
Some are already calling for new laws to prevent these tragedies, but murder, bringing guns on to school property, possession of firearms by a minor without an adult, and the manufacture and possession of explosives are all already illegal – laws don’t stop a determined evil-doer.
The questions many are asking are how did the teenager build his explosives and get armed without the parents’ knowledge? What in this boys’ life pushed him to commit such an atrocity? Until we address whatever is going wrong in these young men’s’ lives and identify them earlier they will continue to find ways to mame and kill.
This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant.
