A 16 year old student who turned Dimitrios Pagourtzis down, an exchange student and two substitute teachers were among the 10 people killed during the shooting at the Santa Fe High School, which Texas Governor Greg Abbott described as “one of the most heinous attacks that we’ve ever seen in the history of Texas schools.”
16-year-old Shana Fisher. Her mother Sadie Rodriguez believes that her daughter was intentionally targeted by Dimitrios Pagourtzis, as he made several advances to her but she always had refused. Rodriguez was also reported to have said that her daughter had reportedly embarrassed Pagourtzis in the week prior to the shooting.
Sabika Seikh, a Pakistani exchange student with YES, which is funded by the U.S. State Department. Her death was confirmed by the Pakistani embassy in Washington. Her uncle said he didn’t blame the “murder of my girl on American society but on that terrorism mindset that is there in all societies … I do ask the American government to make sure weapons will not be easily available in your country to anybody. Please make sure this doesn’t happen again. It really hurts.”
Substitute Teachers Ann Perkins and Cynthia Tisdale, both referred to as beloved teachers, well-loved in the community and caring for students and their relatives were the teachers who didn’t survive the shooting.
Another victim, Kimberly Vaughan was in art class when shots rang out Friday morning. 17-year old Chris Stone, who tried to block the suspect from entering the art room, was killed when the suspect shot through the door, hitting Stone in the chest.
Christian “Riley” Garcia, Aaron Kyle McLeod both 15 and Jared Conard Black, who had celebrated his 17th birthday just two days before the shooting were the other three dead.
Pagourtzi was taken into custody Friday after the shooting and is facing capital murder charges. His motive remains unclear. In a probable cause affidavit, however, authorities said the suspect admitted to the shooting. The gunman also told investigators that when he opened fire Friday morning, “he did not shoot students he did like so he could have his story told,” according to the affidavit.
