In another instance of school schooting in the United States, three people, including the suspect, were killed in St. Louis, Missouri. The suspect was later identified as 19-year-old Orlando Harris. Besides the deceased, seven people were also injured in the incident.

St. Louis Police Department Commissioner Mike Sack, in a news briefing, said regarding the incident, “This is a heartbreaking day for all of us”, adding, “It’s gonna be tough. While on paper we may have nine victims… we have hundreds of others. Everyone who survived is going to take home trauma.”

Who was Orlando Harris?

Orlando Harris was a 19-year-old teenager who was a suspect in the St. Louis high school shooting that left three people dead. Harris was a former student of the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, where he carried out his rampage.

Also Read| St. Louis high school shooting: Three dead, including gunman, police say

Among Harris’ victims, there was a woman of 61 and a girl of 16. Police officials have not yet been able to zero in on the motive behind the mass shooting.

Harris did not have any prior criminal record before Monday’s incident. Police are considering the possibility of him suffering from some mental illness as the reason behind his actions.

Law enforcement officials from the FBI as well as the ATF also made their way to Harris’ home in south St. Louis’ Carondelet neighbourhood’s 7000th block of Pennsylvania Avenue, where he lived with members of his family. They seized some items as evidence along with a computer that likely belonged to Harris.

Also Read| Where is Central Visual and Performing Arts High School?

KMOV reports that a call to the Harris’ home and knocks on his door have remained unanswered. 

Mayor Tishaura Jones got emotional while talking about the incident and recalled visiting the school when classes began: “They were bright-eyed, bushy-tailed. We laughed. We sang”, further adding, “And now to be here for such a devastating and traumatic situation breaks my hurt, especially as a mother.”