The family of Orlando Harris urgently requested Missouri law enforcement to seize the 19-year-old’s bullet-proof vest, AR-15-style rifle, and ammunition, understanding the fragility of his mental health following multiple suicide attempts. However, the police could only recommend that Harris store the firearm in a unit rather than confiscate it.
Just nine days later, Harris entered his former high school in St. Louis and stated ominously, “All of you are going to die.” A newly released 456-page police report reveals the family’s desperate attempts to secure the removal of his firearm before the tragic shooting incident that occurred on October 24, 2022. During that event, Harris fatally shot a student and a teacher, injuring seven others, before being killed by police.
Missouri stands out as one of the states lacking a red-flag law, which aims to limit access to firearms for individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others. This situation underscores the challenges law enforcement faces when attempting to regulate gun access, even in instances where warning signs are present.
Following a tragic shooting incident in Lewiston, Maine, in October 2023, inquiries revealed several missed chances that could have prompted intervention. In another case, a deputy engaged a 14-year-old suspect over an online threat just before a school shooting in Georgia, with the family alerted to a potential emergency.
The police documentation concerning Harris indicates that his first suicide attempt occurred in the fall of 2021, shortly before he was supposed to enroll in college. Various stressors, including pandemic-related disruptions, the legal troubles of a friend, and a car accident, contributed to his deteriorating mental state, as expressed by his family and former employer.
Contrary to college attendance, the report indicates that he was working in a cafeteria at a senior living facility, where conversations about firearms were common among coworkers. In August of that year, during an appointment with a psychiatry resident from Washington University, Harris disclosed having fleeting thoughts about shooting individuals at his old school. Although he claimed these thoughts subsided without planning, they were alarming enough to warrant a follow-up.
He began to prepare for his attack, creating detailed maps of the school and identifying targets among staff, students, and the LGBTQ community, as well as contemplating arson against his family’s home. Although prescribed medication, Harris did not pursue the treatment and ceased attending scheduled appointments.
On October 8, he attempted to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer, but an FBI background check prevented the transaction. The reasons for the denial were not disclosed, with the FBI merely providing vague categories for such refusals. Shortly afterward, Harris secured the AR-15-style rifle, which he subsequently used in the shooting.
By October 15, concern mounted within his family as two packages containing gun-related items arrived at their home. His sister, Noneeka Harris, opened them and discovered bulletproof armor and magazines, prompting a search of Harris’ room, where she found the rifle concealed in an old television box.
Worrying about the situation, Harris’ mother contacted BJC Mental Health Services, who recognized an immediate threat and advised her to consult with police regarding her son’s mental wellbeing. However, officers informed her that, due to Harris’ legal age, they could not take the firearm from him. When they suggested placing the gun in a storage unit, the officers also laid out the steps necessary for Harris to be declared mentally unstable.
Federal regulations have prohibited some individuals with mental illness from purchasing firearms since 1968, which includes cases posing a danger to themselves or others or those who have been involuntarily committed.
In the end, Harris’ sister placed the firearm and other related items in her car, including a box of ammunition that arrived the next day. She drove him to a storage facility approximately five miles from his former school, expressing a strong feeling that something would transpire.
On October 24, amid a shooting spree inside the school, the motivations behind Harris’ targeting remain ambiguous. A school security officer characterized him as relatively well-liked, while his former principal indicated that he had not faced bullying. During the horrifying incident, one student reported hearing someone yell, “I hate this school. I hate everybody.”
Among the chaotic scene, Alexzandria Bell, a student, initially fled towards the exit but then collapsed, silently awaiting help. In a heroic act, physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, age 61, shielded students by confronting Harris, ultimately sacrificing her life.
As the chaos unfolded, Harris retreated to a computer lab on the third floor, where one of the first officers to arrive had a personal stake—his daughter was a student at the school. He later recounted the intense situation, telling his daughter via text, “I killed him.”
Meanwhile, Harris’ sister began to drive toward the school upon learning of the shooting but returned home, where their mother, who had worked overnight, was asleep. Later, Harris’ mother found a voicemail from the hospital checking to see if assistance with Orlando was still needed.
