KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three people are dead and seven others are injured after a shooting Monday at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, according to St. Louis police.
St. Louis Police Commissioner Michael Sack said at a news conference that the three dead included an adult, a girl and the alleged shooter.
Police on Monday evening identified the shooter as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, who graduated from the school last year.
Sack said Harris' motive is still under investigation but “there's suspicions that there may be some mental illness that he's experiencing.” Investigators later searched Harris' home, according to Sack.
Harris had nearly a dozen high-capacity magazines of ammunition with him, Sack said.
Sack initially said the shooter was about 20 years old and did not fully identify him or his victims. He also said that it was not clear if anyone had been targeted.
Harris had no prior criminal history, according to Sack.
Sack declined to say if the adult killed was a teacher, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch identified teacher Jean Kuczka as the slain adult.
Kuczka was a physical education instructor at the school. She had been at Central VPA since 2008, according to her district biography.
Kuczka's daughter said her mother was killed when the gunman burst into her classroom and she moved between him and her students.
Sack said the other fatality was a 16-year-old female who died at the school but did not release her name.
Seven other 15- and 16-year-old students, four boys and three girls, were all in stable condition, according to The Associated Press. Four students suffered gunshot wounds or graze wounds, two suffered bruises and one had a broken ankle.
The shooting, which occurred just after 9 a.m., forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety, according to the AP.
St. Louis Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams said seven security guards were in the school at the time, each at an entry point of the locked building.
One of the guards noticed the man trying to get in at a locked door, but couldn't, the AP reported.
The guard notified school officials and ensured police were contacted, Sack said.
Dozens of police vehicles swarmed the school shortly after the shooting was reported.
Sack declined to say how the man, armed with what he described as a long gun, eventually got inside.
Officers worked to get students out of the three-story brick building, then confronted and stopped the suspect inside the school.
Police then engaged the suspect in an exchange of gunfire, killing him.
Sack said fast actions by a security guard and police officers who “ran to the gunfire” helped end the shooting before more people were killed or hurt.
The FBI said in a statement later Monday morning that there was no longer an “immediate threat” at the school, the AP reported.
Central Visual and Performing Arts shares a building with another magnet school, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, which also was evacuated.
The school district placed all of its schools on lockdown for the remainder of the day, and canceled all after-school activities, due to the shooting.
Police initially said six people, including the suspect, were injured during the incident.
Everyone injured was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
No further details about the injuries were immediately released, according to the AP.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said his heart goes out "to the victims and their families."
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this morning’s shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. Our office has been briefed on this tragedy. https://t.co/WwKmpbclqC
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 24, 2022
Parson also stated that Missouri public safety officials are coordinating with law enforcement in St. Louis, and will provide any assistance or resources to help with the investigation.
Sen. Josh Hawley called news of the shooting "devastating" and thanked St. Louis authorities "for the swift response."
Devastating news in St. Louis. I’m grateful for the swift response of local law enforcement. My office is in contact with local authorities and we stand ready to offer all assistance possible https://t.co/8WpBPKp0vw
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 24, 2022
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said his thoughts are with those affected by the shooting and those working to keep the community safe.
Praying for the children, families, teachers, and staff impacted and present during a school shooting today in South St. Louis. My thoughts are with our educators, first responders, my sister Mayor @tishaura and all in the community working hard to keep our young people safe.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) October 24, 2022
Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier said "her heart broke" when she learned about the shooting and showed support to St. Louis Public Schools.
St. Louis Public Schools said it had received reports that two students were shot and transported to the hospital. It also announced a reunification plan for parents of students who were evacuated after the shooting.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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