St. Louis school gunman had AR-15-style weapon, 600 rounds of ammo, and a note: 'the perfect storm for a mass shooting’

The 19-year-old gunman who killed two and injured several others after opening fire at a St. Louis high school on Monday was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and had more than 600 rounds of ammunition on him, Police Commissioner Michael Sack said on Tuesday. 

Police also said that the gunman, identified as Orlando Harris, left behind a note in his car explaining why he was carrying out the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. 

“I don't have any friends, I don't have any family, I’ve never had a girlfriend, I’ve never had a social life, I’ve been an isolated loner my entire life. This was the perfect storm for a mass shooting,” the note read.

Harris stormed into the school and opened fire. He fatally shot 15-year-old Alexandria Bell, a student, and 61-year-old physical education professor Jean Kuczka. Seven other students were also wounded by gunshots and many others by shrapnel. 

The teenager later exchanged shots with St. Louis Metropolitan Police (SLMPD) officers who responded to the shooting. He was shot and killed by the officers. 

Police said Harris had several hundred rounds of ammo strapped to his chest and some in a bag. They added that other magazines were found in the stairwells. 

Given the amount of ammunition the gunman had, the tragedy at the school could have been “much worse,” said the police chief. 

The gunman had graduated from the school last year. He did not have a criminal history.