St. Louis school shooter had gun taken by police a week before attack


The 19-year-old gunman that killed two and injured seven after opening fire inside a St. Louis high school on Monday had his gun confiscated by police about a week before the attack, authorities revealed Wednesday.
On Oct. 15, the suspect's mother found an AR-15-style rifle in their family home; she then called the police and requested they remove the weapon, per NBC News. The gunman's family knew of his mental health issues and "did everything they could have done" to help him, Police Chief Michael Sack said at a news conference. His mother and sister "worked with him" to ensure he was engaging with others and felt "loved," Sack added.
Authorities earlier this week discovered a handwritten note in the suspect's car, in which he described a life of loneliness and solitude — the "perfect storm" for a mass shooter, the note said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sack said the firearm used in Monday's attack was the same gun that was confiscated earlier this month, but "it is not yet clear when or how the suspect came to be in possession of the firearm after this incident." Sack also declined to elaborate further on how the gunman entered the locked school building, worried it might prove detrimental to the safety of the school district. He did, however, note the gunman had to "force entry."
Authorities are "looking into" how the gunman re-obtained the weapon, Sack added. Following confiscation, the weapon was "transferred to a third party known to the family," NBC News writes.
"I've got to give credit to the family — they made every effort that they felt they reasonably could," the chief said. "That's why the mother is so heartbroken over the families that paid for his episode."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp: a wellness haven in northern Belgium
The Week Recommends This luxury hotel is set within a painstakingly restored ancient monastery
-
July 21 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump going after the Fed, Superman's immigration papers, and the Colbert canary in the coal mine
-
Thailand's monk sex scandal
In The Spotlight New accusations involving illicit sex and blackmail have shaken the nation and opened a debate on the privileges monks enjoy
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack