ST. LOUIS– The suspected shooter in Monday’s Central VPA school shooting bought the firearm from a private seller after an FBI background check stopped him from buying the weapon from a licensed dealer, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD).
Orland Harris,19, attempted to buy a firearm from a licensed dealer in St. Charles, a St. Louis-area suburb, on Oct. 18, 2022, says police. An FBI background check “successfully blocked the sale”, said police in a press release.
Police explained the suspect then sought out and bought the AR-15-style rifle from a private seller, who legally purchased the weapon from a federally licensed dealer in December 2020.
SLMPD did note there is no existing law which would have prevented the private sale between the original purchaser and the suspected shooter. Missouri does not have a red flag law, meaning SLMPD officers did not have clear authority to temporarily seize the rifle when they responded to the home for a “domestic disturbance” on Oct. 15.
Harris’ mother called police when she found the rifle and asked for it to be removed. A family acquaintance was contacted and took possession of the firearm so it was no longer in the home. It’s still unclear how Harris regained possession of the firearm.
Authorities say Harris forcefully entered the school Monday morning, killing 61-year-old P.E. teacher Jean Kuczka and 15-year-old student Alexzandria Bell. Seven other students were injured during the attack, none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening.
Officers, some of whom were off-duty, arrived four minutes after the 911 call. Eight minutes after arriving, officers located Harris on the third floor, barricaded in a classroom. Police said that when Harris shot at officers, they shot back and broke through the door. Harris died during the exchange.
Harris also had more than 600 rounds of ammunition during the shooting. It is unclear how he obtained it.
Wednesday, police said Harris’ family worked to help him get the mental health care he needed. They tried to make sure he took his medicine and even had him committed at one point.
“I have to give credit to the family, they made every effort they felt they reasonably could and I think that is why the mother is so heartbroken over the families that paid for his episode,” said interim St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Sack during a Wednesday morning briefing.
Earlier this week, police revealed that Harris left a notebook in his car discussing his plans for the shooting.
A portion from the note states, “I don’t have any friends. I don’t have any family. I’ve never had a girlfriend. I’ve never had a social life. I’ve been an isolated loner my entire life. This was the perfect storm for a mass shooting.” Sack said part of the note even mentioned “they can’t tell that I am doing this and getting ready.”
The St. Louis shooting was the first school shooting to involve multiple deaths since a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May, according to a list of shootings compiled by Education Week.
