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Thread: School Shooter 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis Arrested in 2018 TX Murders of Ten

  1. #1
    Senior Member Frequent Poster Ted's Avatar
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    School Shooter 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis Arrested in 2018 TX Murders of Ten

    C6BDBD4A-2C36-4023-B611-6C32CD4DB2F2.jpg
    Dimitrios Pagourtzis


    Multiple fatalities after shooting at Texas high school: source

    (Reuters) - Multiple people were killed on Friday in a shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, a law enforcement source said, in the latest gun violence in a country still shaken by the massacre at a Florida high school in February.

    The law enforcement source said the suspected shooter was in custody after the attack at the school about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Houston. Local media reported at least eight people were killed.

    The sheriff’s office for nearby Harris County said its deputies were assisting with a “multiple-casualty incident.”

    “This is no longer an active shooting situation and the injured are being treated,” the sheriff’s department said on Twitter.

    Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Twitter that one person was in custody and a second was detained. “An injured police officer is being treated, the extent of his injuries are unknown,” Gonzalez said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: “Early reports not looking good. God bless all!”

    The latest shooting at a U.S. school underscored a national debate over gun control and gun rights that has intensified after an assailant killed 17 students and staff on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

    Aerial video outside the Santa Fe school broadcast on local television showed police escorting lines of students out of the building and then searching them for weapons as many police cars and at least two ambulances with lights flashing stood by.

    Sophomore Leila Butler told the local ABC affiliate that fire alarms went off at about 7:45 a.m. local time and students left their classrooms. She said some students believe they heard shots fired, and that she was sheltering with other students and teachers near campus.

    Another sophomore, Dakota Shrader, told Fox 26 TV her 17-year-old girlfriend told her by phone that she was wounded but was recovering in a hospital. “My friend got injured,” said an emotional Shrader. “Her leg, she got shot in the leg.”

    First responders following a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, May 18, 2018. Courtesy Harris County Sheriff's Office/via REUTERS
    Dr. David Marshall, chief nursing officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch, said that the hospital was treating at least three patients - two adults and one person under 18. He said it was not immediately clear if that child was a student.

    “I know that they have gunshot wounds but that’s the extent of the knowledge I have at this point,” Marshall told reporters at a news conference. “One adult is in our operating room.”

    “We’re ready for more patients,” he said. “We have not heard of any en route at this point.”

    In February, Santa Fe High School was placed on lockdown while police investigated a “popping sound” that was feared to be gunshots, but no threat was found, the school district said.

    That was a false alarm, but school shootings have happened regularly in the United States since the Parkland massacre.

    Last Friday morning a 14-year-old boy shot and wounded a student at a Southern California high school before fleeing the scene and being arrested, police said.

    Then on Wednesday a police officer assigned to an Illinois high school shot and wounded a 19-year-old former student who had brought a gun to the school, authorities said.

    Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Additional reporting by Peter Szekely; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Susan Thomas

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-t...-idUSKCN1IJ1PA
    Last edited by Ted; 05-18-2018 at 03:56 PM. Reason: Added Pagourtzis’ mugshot.
    Violence and death seem to be the only answers that some people understand.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Frequent Poster Ted's Avatar
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    Santa Fe shooting: Texas governor confirms 10 people dead and 10 wounded

    Governor Greg Abbott confirms the number of fatalities in a shooting at a high school about an hour south-east of Houston

    Ten people have been killed and 10 wounded in a shooting at a Texas high school that ended with a 17-year-old suspected shooter, a student at the school, surrendering to the authorities.

    In the latest school massacre to hit the US, police rushed to Santa Fe high school, about an hour from Houston, on Friday morning before 8am local time. Students ran into a nearby field and woods, and took shelter at a gas station after shots rang out. At least one teacher yelled: “It’s real.”

    Greg Abbott, the Texas governor, confirmed on Friday afternoon that 10 people had been killed and 10 injured. He said: “[This] has to be the worst disaster ever to strike this community … and one of the most heinous attacks in the history of Texas.”

    By early afternoon, the suspected shooter had been identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis.

    Donald Trump broke off from an event at the White House and called it “ a very sad day”. He condemned “an absolutely horrific attack” and said his administration was “determined to do everything in our power” to prevent such incidents.

    A woman who answered the phone at a number associated with the Pagourtzis family declined to speak with the AP. “Give us our time right now, thank you,” she said.

    Pagourtzis plays on the Santa Fe high school junior varsity football team, and is a member of a dance squad with a local Greek Orthodox church.

    Abbott announced an immediate effort to gather state lawmakers and experts together to discuss changes to the law to try to prevent such tragedies in future, including speeding up background checks. He said: “It’s impossible to describe the magnitude of evil here ... we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a risk to others.”

    Abbott did not use the name of the shooter during an afternoon press briefing, but appeared to confirm his identity by referring to certain social media postings that had been found to relate to Pagourtzis, including an image of aT-shirt with “Born to kill” written on the front.

    The governor said the suspect used a shotgun and a .38 revolver in the attack on his school. “Both of these weapons were obtained by the shooter from his father,” he said, adding that the father legally owned them.

    A number of explosive devices, including pipe bombs, pressure-cooker contraptions and Molotov cocktails were found at a number of locations including the scene of the shooting, two residences relating to the suspect, and a car, Abbott said.

    Abbott said the shooter, who is in the custody of the Santa Fe police department, had told officers he had intended to attack the school then kill himself, but he got cold feet and instead surrendered himself to law enforcement.

    But he said there were few “red flags” that would have warned the authorities ahead of time that the 17-year-old was a direct threat, he said.

    At the White House, Trump said: “We are with you in this tragic hour and we will be with you forever. We will do everything we can to keep weapons out of our schools and out of the hands of those who should not have them.”

    Trump pledged action on gun violence after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February, and held high-level meetings with victims, survivors and lawmakers at the White House. But little action has resulted at the national level to change gun laws, despite a huge movement sparked by Parkland students calling for greater gun control.

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    Dakota Shrader, a 10th-grader, told reporters: “We were in class. It was first period. The alarm started going off, everybody went outside, all the teachers were like: ‘Get this way, get this way, come over here.’ Next thing you know we hear the booms and everybody starts running as fast as they can.”

    A friend was shot in the leg, she said, “and the next thing you know all the art [class] windows are getting shot, shattered”.

    Authorities have not yet confirmed that report.

    Student Michael Farina, 17, said he was on the other side of campus when the shooting began, and he thought it was a fire drill. A principal came sprinting down the hall telling everyone to run. He said another teacher yelled out: “It is real.”

    The tragedy comes three months after the high school massacre in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 and is the 16th school shooting this year that resulted in injury or death.

    Santa Fe is a semi-rural commuter-belt city of about 13,000 residents located 30 miles (48km) south-east of Houston.

    On Friday afternoon, the Washington-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence lobbying group released a statement expressing sorrow and anger over the shooting and called for Congress “finally” to take action on legislation to combat gun violence.

    Brady Campaign co-presidents Kris Brown and Avery Gardiner issued a joint statement that read: “We are heartbroken today. Once again, children are shot in their school.

    “What will it take for Congress to step up and do their jobs to protect innocent children from gun violence?”

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...-santa-fe-high

    So, apparently the shooter is 17. Sigh.
    Violence and death seem to be the only answers that some people understand.

  3. #3
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
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    No Death Penalty in the case of 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, school shooter in Santa Fe, Texas. The maximum sentence is LWOP as the only option in a Capital Murder Trial.

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend FFM's Avatar
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    Too bad they can't overturn Roper on a whim; this punk is worth executing regardless of age.

  5. #5
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
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    However because this dude is aged 17, LWOP is the only sentence available. In the 1990's would have been fine to sentence someone for execution.

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    Senior Member CnCP Addict one_two_bomb's Avatar
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    He can't even get mandatory LWOP. I'm sure he will get it, but they have to consider lesser sentence

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    Grand jury investigation continues in Santa Fe school shooter case

    By Nick Powell
    Houston Chronicle

    A Galveston County grand jury has begun hearing testimony in the criminal case against the 17-year old Santa Fe High School student accused of killing 10 people in a shooting spree at the school in May.

    Nick Poehl, the defense attorney for the alleged shooter, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, confirmed Wednesday that grand jury testimony had begun, and that his parents are among the witnesses that have testified.

    The Galveston County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the grand jury proceedings. Kevin Petroff, the first assistant district attorney in Galveston County, said that he did not expect any new charges being filed against Pagourtzis.

    "I anticipate that the cases that we are going to present to the grand jury are the cases we've charged him with," Petroff said.

    Pagourtzis, 17, was arrested at Santa Fe High School on May 18, the day of the shooting after allegedly killing 10 people and wounding 13, including Santa Fe Independent School District Officer John Barnes. He was charged with one count of capital murder of multiple persons and one count of aggravated assault against a public servant, according to court records.

    Petroff said the federal investigation into the shooting is still ongoing and that any federal charges would take some time because Pagourtzis was a juvenile when the shooting occurred,. If he is convicted on state capital murder charges, he could receive a life sentence and theoretically be eligible for parole in 40 years. Because he was under 18 at the time of the alleged offense, Pagourtzis cannot be sentenced to the death penalty or to a life sentence without parole.

    "That's more complex, as he's a juvenile federally," said Petroff. "If the U.S. attorney is going to file charges, they have to go through a few more steps than we do since 17 is (considered) an adult statewide."

    In the federal system, defendants under the age of 18 are considered juveniles and there are more procedural hurrdles in their prosecution.

    The Chronicle reported in May that the Justice Department is considering filing additional charges against Pagourtzis after some of the explosive devices found on Pagourtzis when he was arrested at the high school -- CO2 canisters wrapped with duct tape -- were found to be functional.

    Federal law enforcement could submit separate federal charges if the evidence indicates that the materials that went into making the devices were purchased using a credit or debit card or online and the transactions crossed state lines.

    In Galveston County, two grand juries are seated in three-month terms. The current grand juries began their term in July. It could be weeks after the grand jury hears testimony before an indictment is handed down, though state law requires people being held in jail on felony charges be indicted within 90 days of being detained. Wednesday marked the 82nd day since Pagourtzis was arrested.

    Poehl said he suspects the grand jury hearings could take longer than most cases, since in Pagourtzis' case since the prosecution can use a grand jury to compel testimony from witnesses who otherwise would not cooperate with law enforcement.

    "My suspicion, since it's gone into the second week, is that (the prosecution) is at least partially using (grand jury testimony) as part of the investigation, which is ongoing," Poehl said.

    Pagourtzis is being evaluated for competency and sanity by a team of experts. "Competency" in this case is defined as Pagourtzis' current state of mind and ability to stand trial while "sanity" indicates his state of mind at the time of the offense.

    Pagourtzis has had only one session thus far, and Poehl said it would take at least three sessions for an initial assessment to be made. Poehl said the sessions are being done "ad hoc" as it has been difficult coordinating the schedules of the experts while also coordinating access to Pagourtzis.

    Pagourtzis is being held without bail in Galveston County Jail.

    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/new...e-13142431.php
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    Lawyer: Accused Texas school shooter found incompetent

    By Juan A. Lozano
    AP

    HOUSTON (AP) — The trial for a teenager accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a Texas high school will be delayed while he receives mental health treatment, his attorney said Monday.

    The news comes after three experts — one for the defense, one appointed by the court and one picked by prosecutors — found Dimitrios Pagourtzis incompetent to stand trial, said Nick Poehl, one of Pagourtzis’ attorneys.

    Poehl said he could not discuss specific details of any diagnosis due to privacy issues. But he said Pagourtzis cannot understand the charges against him or assist in his defense.

    “I’m glad he’s going to be receiving some treatment that he desperately needs,” Poehl said.

    The prosecution expert’s findings were discussed at a meeting between attorneys and Ellisor on Monday in which all parties agreed that Pagourtzis was not competent to stand trial, Poehl said.

    A formal order from Judge John Ellisor is expected later this week.

    Kevin Petroff, the first assistant district attorney for Galveston County, said his office was working to meet with all families of the victims before making any statement.

    Pagourtzis, 19, is charged with capital murder for the May 18, 2018, attack at Santa Fe High School, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Houston. His trial was set to start Feb. 18. Because he was 17 at the time of the attack, he is not eligible for the death penalty.

    The issue of Pagourtzis’ competency relates to his current state of mind and not his state of mind at the time of the shooting, Poehl said.

    Pagourtzis will be transferred from the Galveston County Jail to a state mental health facility, where he will remain for four to six months to receive treatment. After that, he will be re-evaluated to determine whether he is competent for trial.

    It’s not clear when the transfer will happen.

    “We’re all just hoping it happens as soon as possible,” Poehl said.

    Ellisor on Monday lifted an order that had prevented defense attorneys and prosecutors from discussing Pagourtzis’ mental state.

    Pagourtzis also faces federal charges in a sealed criminal case.

    https://apnews.com/d074cc94ad134e08b336d1f367038a31

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    This one puzzles me. He wasn’t your typical mass shooter. This dude had friends, did well in school, wasn’t popular but wasn’t really picked on, either, from what I read. He wasn’t considered “weird.” He was just another kid, from what his classmates have said.

  10. #10
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Wrong. Kids at his school said he was weird and a loner. No one paid attention.

    But secretly, the 17-year-old student was sketching out his massacre in private journals — including an ultimately unfulfilled plan to kill himself at the end of the rampage, Abbott said.

    Pagourtzis was known at school as “weird” and a “loner,” other students said — one who had grown only weirder this year, when he began wearing a trench coat every day and posting odd things on social media.

    https://nypost.com/2018/05/18/suspec...ise-red-flags/
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    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
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