The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has released a long-awaited report on the 2022 mass shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) High School, revealing that the gunman had specifically targeted the LGBTQ+ community.
The shooter, 19-year-old former student Orlando Harris, entered the school on October 24, 2022, fatally shooting teacher Jean Kuczka and 15-year-old student Alexzandria Bell before being stopped by police.
The 456-page report, containing records from nearly 70 responding officers and details from Harris’s personal manifesto, provides insight into his intentions to carry out violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and others within the school.
Central to the newly revealed details is Harris’s specific targeting of the LGBTQ+ community. In a notebook described by officers as his “manifesto,” Harris outlined his intent to harm members of this group, along with plans to set his family home on fire with his relatives inside. Due to these revelations, several charges in the incident report have been labelled as bias crimes, with LGBTQ+ individuals identified as a targeted demographic.
5 On Your Side had previously reported that Harris also marked specific classrooms on a map of the school, indicating teachers he felt had wronged him. It was also reported that Harris harboured issues with various students.
Harris’s mother provided additional background when contacted by police on the day of the incident, describing her son’s history of mental health struggles, including multiple suicide attempts from August 2021 to mid-2022, which eventually led him to seek therapy.
In October 2022, just before the attack, the family tried to limit Harris’s access to firearms after noticing suspicious packages he received from “ammunition suppliers.” His sister discovered tactical gear, including a body armour vest, magazines, and an AR rifle hidden in his room. When Harris’s mother checked his bank records and saw additional purchases for firearms-related items, she contacted police, hoping they would intervene. However, authorities confirmed that Harris was legally allowed to own the weapon. The family ultimately reached an agreement with Harris to store his weapon and ammunition in a storage unit, though it was later found empty after the attack.
Another sister, who had maintained a close relationship with him, reported that he had become increasingly withdrawn since a car accident two years prior. She was on her way to university on the day of the shooting and immediately feared her brother’s involvement upon hearing of the attack.
Police also interviewed a psychiatrist who saw Harris twice in August 2022. During their second session, Harris admitted he had briefly thought about an attack on his former high school but claimed it was a passing notion. Despite the psychiatrist prescribing medication, Harris did not fill the prescription. Attempts to reschedule a missed September appointment were also unsuccessful.
Authorities later found a structured 60-day countdown in Harris’s manifesto, beginning on August 25, 2022, indicating he had spent months planning the attack with a focus on harming LGBTQ+ individuals and others.
The events surrounding the CVPA High School tragedy highlight the importance of accessible support for those dealing with mental health challenges, especially within LGBTQ+ communities. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach out to the following organisations:
- Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand: Offers comprehensive mental health resources and support. Visit mentalhealth.org.nz or call 0800 611 116 for assistance.
- Youthline: Provides counselling and support specifically for young people. You can reach them at youthline.co.nz, call 0800 376 633, or text 234.
- OUTLine NZ: A dedicated support line for LGBTQ+ individuals offering confidential counselling. Visit outline.org.nz or call 0800 688 5463.
- RainbowYOUTH: Supports queer and gender-diverse youth across New Zealand with resources and support networks. Visit ry.org.nz for more information.
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