The 21-year-old Austrian who killed nine people at a high school in Graz on Tuesday was a former student of that school. He legally possessed the weapons he used, Austrian police report.
The shooter committed suicide in the school restrooms after the shooting, police chief Gerald Ortner said at a press conference. Two weapons were found: a handgun and a long gun. The man had a permit for both.
According to Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, the man studied at the school in Graz but did not graduate. He still lived nearby. The motive of the former student is not clear.
Minister Karner also announced new information about the nine deaths. They are six female and three male victims. In addition, there were twelve injuries. Some of them were seriously injured.
Students were led to a sports stadium near the school
The first reports about the shooting incident came in around 10:00 AM. Karner praises the police, the special units, and the ambulance for their quick action. The emergency services were on site within minutes.
After the shooting, the students were led to a safe place and then to a sports stadium near the school. There they were reunited with their parents.
Mayor Elke Kahr and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker describe the shooting as “a tragedy.” According to Stocker, there are “no words for the pain and sorrow we all feel at this moment.”