One of the students killed in the horrific Santa Fe school shooting on Friday had only recently turned down romantic advances from the shooter, her mother has told the press.
17-year-old student Dimitrios Pagourtzis fatally shot 10 people on Friday May 18, when he opened fire on his classmates and teachers at Sante Fe High School in Texas. At least 10 others were injured.
Victim Shana Fisherโs mother, Sadie Rodriguez, has told Associated Press that she believes her 16-year-old daughter was targeted by the killer.
โHe kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no,โ Rodriguez said, adding that her daughter had โfinally stood up to him and embarrassed himโ just a week before the shooting.
โA week later he opens fire on everyone he didnโt like,โ she told the Los Angeles Times.
The shooterโs family has issued a statement saying they are โas shocked and confused as anyone elseโ by the tragedy, marie claire US reports.
โWe are saddened and dismayed by yesterdayโs events at Santa Fe High School,โ their statement reads. โWe extend our most heartfelt prayers and condolences to all of the victims.โ
โWe are gratified by the public comments made by other Santa Fe High School students that show Dimitri as we know him: a smart, quiet, sweet boy,โ it continues. โWhat we have learned from media reports seems incompatible with the boy we love.โ
According to The Guardian, the shooter used a shotgun and revolver owned by his father.