We had our Police Advisory Committee sponsored picnic for our precinct today. But attendance was low – many officers had been or were busy elsewhere – this happened in the next precinct over, and many of our officers were called there to cover.
The shooter came around the outside of the church while students & some parents were at the opening-of school Mass. She barricaded the doors from outside, then started firing thru the stained glass windows on the side. She used an AR-15 type gun, had another gun and a pistol with.
Killed were two young children and the shooter (suicide) and 17 children & adults were injured. Two are still in critical condition and may not survive.
The shooter’s mother was a teacher at the school, recently left. (Haven’t heard under what circumstances.)
There was a candlelight vigil tonight at a nearby park, with fairly good attendance.
Update – the total of injured has risen to 18 people.
One injured child was taken in a private car to a hospital, was treated and released. Since that child was not taken by one of the official ambulances, they did not get counted in the official total.
As of today, 2/3rds of the injured have been treated and released from hospitals. Only about a half-dozen are still in hospitals. Two victims are still listed in critical condition.
The shooter’s Mother has hired a criminal defense attorney. The full story of that hasn’t really filtered through yet. The Father has interviewed with the police. Previous teacher saw signs of self harm (marks on arm).
Obviously there was some kind of mental illness going on but he/she may have wanted to transition back.
In his disturbed manifesto, Westman, 23, claimed to be anxious about a visit from his mother in an entry dated July 1, where he recalled her concerns about him transitioning.
“Your words, mother, made me stay in my discomfort unable to ask for help to avoid admitting defeat. You were right mama, but the way you handled it led me to wanting to kill so so many people,” he wrote.