Uncovered: The Solitary Graz Killer's Love for Shooting Games and Polite Rejections
Resident Perpetrator of Graz Incident Was a Retired Individual Spending Time on a First-Person Shooter Game
New findings have come to light regarding the Graz shooter: The 21-year-old suspect boasted a fondness for shooting games and honed his skills at a shooting range. His bid to join the Austrian military, however, was Politely Declined.
After the bloodbath at Graz's high school, with a staggering death toll of ten, the police are still stumped about the motive. During a press briefing, the Styrian police and the public prosecutor's office shared some chilling details. The 21-year-old Austrian stormed the school with a backpack brimming with two recently purchased weapons and ammunition. His arsenal included a Glock pistol and a sawn-off double-barreled shotgun. He kitted himself out with a gun belt, hunting knife, shooting glasses, and a headset, reportedly in a restroom stall. Michael Lohnegger, head of the Styrian Criminal Investigation Department, shared that the school shooting lasted approximately seven minutes. Initially, the suspect fired aimlessly at people on the school's second floor. He then proceeded to the third floor, broke down a locked door, and claimed several more lives in the washroom, taking his own life simultaneously with the arrival of the police. Among the deceased was a teacher who had earlier taught him. The police are still investigating whether this tragic encounter was a factor. At the time of the incident, around 350 to 400 people were in the school. Thankfully, the killer had enough ammunition to continue his rampage, but he only managed to kill the nine students in the 14 to 17 age range, and the teacher who later passed away in a hospital due to her injuries. Eleven other victims were injured, most requiring intensive care, though their health has since stabilized, as per the hospital operator Kages.
Introverted to the Core
The young man has been described as extremely introverted, according to the police. Lohnegger stated that he lived a secluded life and shied away from real-world activities. Instead, he found solace in digital worlds, harboring a passion for so-called "online ego-shooters" – a genre of first-person shooter games that are popular among gamers.
A Neighbor Speaks Out
The suspect's social life seemed limited within the community. No apparent threats or dissatisfaction with the school have surfaced so far, leaving the police and the community scratching their heads as to the school's specific targeting.
The killer acted alone, but the police are inquiring if he had any preliminary assistance. A search of his residence unveiled a farewell letter, a non-functional pipe bomb, and attack blueprints. According to Lohnegger, "He apparently didn't have time to craft a functional bomb."
Recognized, but Rejected
The perpetrator legally sourced his weapons from two different suppliers, as reported by the LKA chief. From March, he participated in five shooting training sessions with rented firearms at a Graz shooting club. Since mid-May, he carried a weapon permit card, which included a passed psychological fitness test, as confirmed by police. Before the attack, the shooter hadn't drawn any attention to himself.
However, he was recently deemed unfit for military duty during his entrance examination for the Austrian Armed Forces. According to Michael Bauer, spokesperson for the Austrian Ministry of Defense, "the resilience of the individual in the face of danger, potential danger, and interactions in a community are tested."
The community is currently exploring the possibility of revising both the community policy and the employment policy in light of the recent Graz school shooting, as the perpetrator was reportedly welcomed into a local shooting club but denied entry into the Austrian Armed Forces.
While the general-news outlets are focused on the crime-and-justice aspects of the incident, sports channels might find an angle in the suspect's avid interest in online ego-shooters, a popular genre among gamers, considering the connection between sports and gaming.
