ST. LOUIS —St. Louis Metropolitan City Police say a woman and teenager are dead, and the suspect has been killed following a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in south St. Louis at Kingshighway and Arsenal Monday morning. Six others were injured in the shooting, according to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS).
Police said the shooter was 19-year-old Orlando Harris, a 2021 graduate of the school. He lived in south St. Louis City with his family and had no prior run-ins with police. Officials are still investigating a motive.
A 61-year-old female and a 16-year-old student died during the shooting. Six other teenagers suffered a variety of injuries including gun wounds, abrasions and broken bones. Police have not yet released the names of the victims out of respect to the victims’ families, St. Louis Metropolitan Interim Police Chief Mike Sack said during a press conference Monday evening.
Around 9:11 a.m. police received a call about an active shooter at Central VPA High School. Officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the call, Sack said in a press conference Monday morning.
Upon arrival around 9:15 a.m., students told police there was a shooter armed with a long gun. Officers located the suspect on the third floor of the school in a classroom, according to Sack.
Around 9:23 a.m. officers engaged in gunfire with the shooter and struck the suspect who was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Sack. The building was cleared with an inital search by responding officers, SWAT team and a bomb dog at 9:52 a.m.
No officers were injured.
There were no additional threats and police were patrolling the area, Sack said.
Eight people were transported from the school to local hospitals for gunshot wounds and shrapnel wounds. One adult female who was shot at the scene died at the hospital and one teenage female was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sack.
Sack said the doors of the school were locked, which gave the suspect pause in trying to gain entry and bought time for police to arrive at the scene.
“The security staff did an outstanding job identifying the suspect’s efforts to enter and immediately notify other staff and ensure that we were contacted,” Sack said.
Sack declined to answer how the suspect gained entry into the school. In a press conference Monday evening, Sack said how the suspect got into the school will not be released for safety reasons.
SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams said seven security officers were on duty at the time on both sides of the building.
As hundreds of students fled the scene during the incident, Sack said it was possible that some escaped through windows.
SLMPD Force Investigation Unit is continuing the investigation.
Officers found what is believed to be the suspect’s vehicle that will be searched, according to Sack.
During the press conference Monday evening, SLPS communications director George Sells said the superintendent and district officials are meeting to figure out security measures moving forward for other SLPS schools and when Central VPA will reopen.
“The most important thing to us right now is the well-being of our students and our staff and their families,” Sells said. “We’ve got counselors and social workers that are already reaching out. They were at Gateway today when those buses arrived with those kids and those people are going to be a part of their lives for as long as they need them.”
FBI Investigation
The FBI is assisting in the investigation and is asking for the public to submit photos and videos that would help in the investigation. People can visit fbi.gov/centralvpa to upload and submit information to the FBI.
FBI victim specialists are being brought in to help and those who need help can dial 988.
“Since this happened this morning, we have received an uptick in additional allegations of potential school shooters around here,” special agent Jay Greenberg during Monday night’s press conference.
“We just ask everybody please help the area deal with this appropriately. Please have a conversation with your kid if they’re old enough to have a device and make sure that any hoax, or any joke that they’re sending about school shootings right now will be taken incredibly seriously.”
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner extended her condolences to the families of the victims and students, and said her office is working with the Force Investigation Unit and other law enforcement with the investigation. She also thanked the first responders for their hard work.
Other schools impacted
Around noon, SLPS released that all schools would remain on a “hard lockdown” for the remaining of the day. That means which means there will be limited movement in and outside the schools. At dismissal, all scheduled buses will leave at the appointed time.
The district is also asking any parents who want to come to school and pick up a student, please call the school in advance and let the office know when and who will be picking up the student. The student will be walked out to them.
Also, all after school classes and athletic activities are cancelled for this evening.
During the press conference Monday morning, St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones talked about how she visited students at Central VPA on their first day of the 2022-23 school year.
“We laughed, we sang, we danced. And now to be here for such a devastating and traumatic situation breaks my heart, especially as a mother,” she said.
“I’m heartbroken for these families who send their children to our schools hoping that they‘ll be safe. Our children shouldn’t have to experience this. They shouldn’t have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens and unfortunately that happened today.”
Jones thanked first responders and the school district.
Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) also attended the press conference.
“We want to thank again our first responders but we also want to thank those teachers and school staff and administrators that were in place and moving and ready. Those that were there to support the students and those that are there right now with the students,” Bush said.
She added that her office’s phone lines are open for those who need resources and need help.
“Our hearts go out to each and every one of you. But as we’re thinking about how to help we will also be here on the ground to help,” Bush said.
Gov. Mike Parson is aware and monitoring the situation.
Central Visual and Performing Arts High School is a magnet school specializing in visual art, musical art and performing art. The district website says the school’s “educational program is designed to create a nurturing environment where students receive a quality academic and artistic education that prepares them to compete successfully at the post-secondary level or perform competently in the world of work.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
