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Two years after the tragic shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, newly released police documents have shed light on the chilling details surrounding the incident. The revelations paint a disturbing picture of a shooter who meticulously planned his attack, targeting students, teachers, and the LGBTQ+ community, while his family's desperate attempts to intervene were thwarted by legal limitations.

A Haunting Reminder of the Need for Urgent Action

Heartbreaking Accounts from Survivors

DeJanel Freeman, a parent whose two daughters were caught in the chaos, vividly recounts the harrowing experience. "My heart beats a little different," she says, the trauma still etched in her memory. Her daughters, who returned to CVPA after the incident, serve as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact on the community.

Chilling Details Emerge from Police Reports

The newly released police documents, spanning 456 pages, provide a chilling account of the shooter's actions. Investigators reveal that the 19-year-old gunman, Orlando Harris, had carefully planned his attack, targeting specific individuals and groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. The report also details how Harris's family had repeatedly tried to intervene, with his siblings discovering body armor and ammunition hidden in packages, and his mother attempting to have his gun taken away. However, without the necessary legal tools, they were powerless to stop him.

Urgent Calls for Legislative Action

Missouri Representative Ashley Aune, a Democrat from the 14th District, has been advocating for the implementation of red flag laws, which would empower families and law enforcement to intervene when there are clear warning signs. However, she laments that not only was such legislation not discussed, but the state has also considered bills that would prevent the implementation of a red flag law altogether.

The Shooter's Manifesto and Targeted Attacks

The police report reveals that Harris's "manifesto" contained chilling details, including his plan to target members of the LGBTQ+ community and his intention to set his family's home on fire with them inside. These revelations have further shaken the community, underscoring the need for urgent action to address the legal gaps that allowed this tragedy to occur.

The Shooter's Deteriorating Mental Health and Family's Attempts to Intervene

The report also delves into Harris's mental health history, detailing his multiple suicide attempts and the family's efforts to seek help. His mother informed police that he had started seeing a therapist after a suicide attempt in August 2021, and the family had even tried to have his gun taken away, but to no avail.

A Haunting Reminder of the Consequences of Inaction

As DeJanel Freeman poignantly states, "It was never supposed to happen at all. And he shouldn't have had access to the things that he had access to at all." The newly released police report serves as a haunting reminder of the urgent need for legislative action to address the legal gaps that allowed this tragedy to occur, and to empower families and law enforcement to intervene before it's too late.