Vantaa’s 12-year-old school shooter was on target list, police say | Yle news

Police have completed a preliminary investigation into a fatal school shooting in Vantaa last spring that left one boy dead and two girls injured, one seriously.

According to police, the shooting was committed by a 12-year-old boy who opened fire with a handgun in a sixth-grade classroom at the Viertola school on the morning of April 2.

In the early stages of the investigation it was suggested that the suspect had been bullied, but police now say this was not the case.

“During the investigation, police did not find any evidence that the targeted students had bullied or discriminated against the suspect,” the detective said. Marko Sarkka The police wrote this in a press release on Thursday.

The preliminary investigation also revealed that the suspect took a photo of himself posing with the gun and loading the weapon.

During interrogation, the suspect told investigators he planned to shoot other people who he listed as bullies, according to police. There were a total of fifteen names of people on the suspect’s target list, Särkkä told Yle.

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The suspect told investigators he had 14 rounds of ammunition in his possession, but police said they could not verify how many shots the boy fired after leaving the classroom.

The suspect fired four shots into the classroom over a period of approximately 90 seconds until he fled the school.

The suspect told investigators that after running outside, he fired the gun several times in the air and also shot at a parked car.

Police previously said the suspect had searched online for information about school shootings and mass killings before the shooting occurred.

Police now say that before carrying out the deadly act in April, the suspect had watched a documentary series about the Kauhajoki school shooting, which killed 10 students at the College of Hospitality in Kauhajoki in 2008.

Investigators also found that the suspect had watched news clips and animations about the 2007 Jokela High School shooting that left six students and two staff members dead.

One victim is still recovering

One of the girls injured in the shooting was released from the hospital shortly after the attack, but the other victim spent months in the hospital and was only released last week.

“The second victim who was in hospital for an extended period was released and will receive treatment at home. Despite this development, her condition is not good. The victim’s relatives have confirmed this information to the police,” Särkkä said in the press release.

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The police suspect the now 13-year-old boy of murder, attempted murder, making illegal threats, aggravated preparation of criminal offenses against life and health, and a firearms offense.

However, because he is a minor, the suspect will not be prosecuted and the case will not be forwarded to the public prosecutor for charges. However, he will likely remain in some form of custody and could be sued for damages.

Interrogation details

After the shooting, investigators asked the juvenile suspect to explain the events in his own words.

“I shot three students with a gun,” he said, according to police, who noted that the boy did not immediately remember the name of the school because he had recently transferred there.

When asked why he carried out the attack, the boy said it was due to bullying and discrimination he experienced, police said. However, police said no evidence was found that he had been bullied.

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The boy also explained that he had taken the revolver and ammunition from a close relative’s gun cabinet a few days earlier.

According to police, the suspect said he pointed the gun at the victims and shot them, and that he planned his attack in advance.

When asked if he had told anyone about his plan prior to the attack, the boy said he had not.

During an initial interview with investigators, the boy explained that after arriving at school that morning, he went to the bathroom and listened to music for about five minutes until he went to the classroom and started shooting.

According to police, the boy said he originally intended to fire all fourteen rounds of ammunition he was carrying, but ultimately decided against it.

Shooter described himself as friendly

On that first day of interrogation, the boy was asked if he understood what he had done.

“Yes, I understand,” the boy replied.

During that first session, police said the boy showed remorse for his actions.

He also said the idea to shoot his classmates came about four weeks before he carried out the attack, telling investigators the act was a way to “express (his) anger,” police said.

However, the boy refused to say the names of his victims, or the teacher, even though he knew them. According to police, he called them students and the teacher.

Police said the 12-year-old described herself as calm, friendly, honest and kind.

Police said investigators tried to make the interrogation process as comfortable as possible for the suspect, adding that two police officers, the boy’s legal advisor and social workers were also present during the interrogation.

Shooting felt ‘cool’

Investigators asked the boy to explain what happened on the morning of the shooting and what it felt like.

“Well, it’s hard to say, I was quite shocked and I must say it’s not like the movies at all,” the boy said, adding that it felt “weird.” He said the shots from the gun sounded like fireworks.

After the attack, the boy went outside and fired an unknown number of bullets, including one aimed at a parked car. He told investigators that firing the gun felt “cool,” according to police.

The boy said he was aware of other school shootings and believed that “90 percent” of the perpetrators were “mean bastards” who just wanted to kill.

“But some were bullied and wanted revenge,” he said, according to police.

Despite claiming he had been bullied, he had not told anyone about the situation before the shooting, police said.

The boy had difficulty answering a question about his feelings about someone’s death.

“Sometimes it’s tragic, but I can’t really say,” he replied.

However, the boy said he understood that shooting someone could result in death, police said.