The Tragic Shooting at Santa Fe High School
On Friday, May 18th, 2018, the city of Santa Fe, Texas was rocked by a devastating shooting at the local high school. A 17-year-old student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire on an art class shortly after 7:45am, killing eight students and two teachers. He also injured thirteen other people in a tragedy that left the country in shock. The incident was dubbed one of the deadliest school shootings in US history, igniting yet another nationwide discussion about gun control and violence in American culture.
What Gun Was Used?
The weapon used in the Santa Fe shooting has been identified as a Remington 870 Shotgun and a .38 caliber sawed-off shotgun. These weapons were purchased by Pagourtzis’ father and were stored in a locked gun closet in the family home. Despite being kept in a secure location, Pagourtzis still managed to access the firearms, using a device to open the closet with a code.
Why the Firearms Were Used
These weapons are normally used for hunting, and they each require the user to reload after every shot. It is believed that Pagourtzis wanted to cause as much damage as possible, which is why he chose these weapons. The shotguns’ slow reload time would have enabled him to keep firing at his victims while they desperately ran for cover. In addition to the firearms, Pagourtzis was found in possession of several explosives, including pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails.
Implications of the Shooting
The Santa Fe shooting has reignited the debate about gun control and school safety in the United States. It has highlighted the failure of existing gun laws, and has sparked a nationwide discussion about how best to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals. The incident has also led to the reformulation of school security protocols, with the Santa Fe community, and countless other cities across the nation, using this tragedy as a lesson for future prevention. We can only hope that more stringent laws will be implemented, and more effective safety plans will be put in place, to prevent further school shootings from occurring.