Missouri police faced challenges in restricting gun access for 19-year-old Orlando Harris, who carried out a shooting at his former high school, killing a student and a teacher and injuring seven others before being fatally shot by police. Harris’ family had tried to intervene by pleading with authorities to confiscate his gun, bullet-proof vest, and ammunition due to his fragile mental health, but the officers could only suggest keeping the weapon in a storage unit. The incident highlighted the difficulties law enforcement face in limiting gun access, especially in states without red-flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others.
Similar missed opportunities to intervene in psychiatric crises were seen in other tragic incidents, such as an Army reservist’s shooting spree in Maine that claimed 18 lives and a deadly school shooting in Georgia involving a 14-year-old. In Harris’ case, the police report revealed that he had a history of mental health issues, including a suicide attempt, which may have been exacerbated by various stressful events in his life. Despite efforts by his family and a psychiatry resident to address his violent thoughts and plans, Harris continued to exhibit concerning behavior, including attempting to purchase a firearm that was ultimately blocked by an FBI background check.
Harris eventually acquired a rifle for the shooting and received packages containing ammunition and body armor, prompting his family to seek help from mental health services and law enforcement. Despite expressing concerns about his mental state and the possession of firearms, Harris’ mother was told by the police that they could not forcibly remove the gun from him since he was of legal age to possess it. Ultimately, the gun and other items were placed in a storage unit, but the tragedy unfolded on October 24 when Harris carried out the attack at his former school.
The motive behind Harris targeting his high school remains unclear, as he was not known to have been bullied and was recalled by acquaintances as somewhat popular. The shooting resulted in the deaths of a teacher and a student, while several others were wounded in the attack. The chaos and fear experienced during the shooting were captured in testimonies from survivors and witnesses, including a security officer who reassured a wounded student and a teacher who sacrificed her life to protect her students. The responding police officer, who had a daughter at the school, recalled the emotional toll of confronting the shooter and later informing his daughter of his actions. The aftermath of the tragedy left Harris’ family grappling with the devastating consequences of his actions and the missed opportunities to prevent the violence.
