Key Point Summary – Austrian School Shooter

• Shooter Artur A., 21, killed 10 at his former high school
• Sent haunting goodbye video to his mother before attack
• Asked for his pet cat to be taken care of after his death
• Victims included 9 students aged 14–17 and a teacher
• Shooter used two legal firearms during the rampage
• Pipe bomb materials discovered in his home
• Austria mourns with a national moment of silence

A Mother’s Worst Nightmare Begins

Artur A., a 21-year-old former student, walked into his old high school in Graz with two guns and a mission of destruction. Before unleashing chaos, he sent his mother a short video message asking for forgiveness and begging her to ensure someone looked after his cat.

She opened the video nearly half an hour later. Panicked, she called the police—but by then, her son had already murdered ten people and ended his own life in a school bathroom.

Panic and Bloodshed Fill the Halls

Inside BORG Dreierschutzengasse high school, students were laughing, learning, and preparing for the day ahead. Then, the sound of gunfire tore through the building.

Artur fired for 13 minutes straight. He killed nine students between the ages of 14 and 17, along with one teacher. Witnesses said he shot people on multiple floors, and in at least one case, outside the building.

Teens Pretend to Be Dead to Survive

As chaos erupted, students scrambled for cover. One girl called her mother screaming, “Mama, mama, I’m running for my life!” Another student dropped to the floor and pretended to be dead.

His father later told reporters, “My son only survived because he stayed completely still. He knew if he moved, he’d be next.”

Graz Becomes the Scene of Horror

Austria’s second-largest city is no stranger to peaceful days. But Tuesday shattered that calm. More than 300 police officers, 158 paramedics, 65 ambulances, and two helicopters raced to the scene.

Armed commandos stormed the four-story school. Inside, they found carnage. Outside, parents waited in tears.

Victims Include Kosovan Teen and French National

One of the victims, 15-year-old Lea Ilir Bajrami, has already been identified. Her aunt shared the heartbreak on Facebook, writing, “We pray for her soul and thank those who share our pain.”

Another student held French citizenship. Austria’s government confirmed that six girls and three boys were among the victims, along with a female teacher.

Chilling Video Captures Sounds of Attack

Footage from inside the school shows students crying and running down hallways. One clip reveals two girls holding each other as gunshots ring out.

A teacher, Paul Nitsche, described the moment the shooter blasted open a door. “He came in firing. I ran for the stairwell thinking, ‘This can’t be real.’”

Shooter Lived in Shadows, Fueled by Rage

The Austrian school shooter had no social media and lived quietly in a suburb of Graz with his single mother. Neighbors barely noticed him.

“He never said hello,” one person recalled. “He wore headphones and looked down. But he wasn’t rude.”

Police Discover Bomb Materials and Notes

Officers searching Artur’s home found a non-functional pipe bomb and plans for a possible bombing. He left behind both digital and handwritten farewell notes.

One note blamed years of bullying at the school. Another asked that someone care for his pet cat.

Austria Confronts a National Tragedy

Austrian officials declared three days of national mourning. Schools across Graz held moments of silence. At 10 a.m., all public transport stopped.

President Alexander van der Bellen called it “a horror beyond words.” Chancellor Christian Stocker flew to Graz and called it “a dark day in our history.”

Community Holds Vigils and Blood Drives

Outside the school, hundreds lit candles in memory of the victims. In Graz’s main square, a sea of lights flickered under the night sky.

At blood donation centers, long lines formed. Johanna, 30, said, “I just had to help. Doing nothing felt impossible.”

Survivors and Families Recount the Trauma

A student told how he watched three classmates fall. “I lay on the ground and didn’t move. I thought I was next.”

One mother said her son called during the attack. “He told me he thought he was going to die. I didn’t know he was safe until hours later.”

Legal Guns, But Deadly Intentions

Artur legally bought his weapons, one just days before the attack. Austria allows adults to own certain firearms without a license.

With nearly 1.5 million legal guns in a country of 9.2 million, the debate over firearm regulation has reignited.

City Receives Copycat Threats

Just before Wednesday’s national moment of silence, two other schools in Graz received threats. Police evacuated both locations as a precaution.

So far, no violence has followed those threats, but fears remain high.

Teachers Say It Felt Like a Warzone

One teacher said, “We locked the doors and crouched with students. Everyone was frozen.”

Another added, “This isn’t something anyone should experience, especially in a school. It was like a nightmare come true.”

Austria Begins the Long Road to Healing

The Austrian school shooter has left behind a trail of grief, unanswered questions, and a shattered sense of safety.

As investigators search his computers for more clues, the country mourns not just the lives lost—but the innocence stolen.