Shana Fisher (pictured in undated photo) was one of the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooter, and had repeatedly turned away unwanted advances by gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Photo: Ericha Fisher Farris via Facebook
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https://scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2146991/she-turned-down-texas-school-shooters-aggressive United States & Canada
She turned down the Texas school shooter’s ‘aggressive’ advances - so he shot her and 9 others dead, grieving mother says
Shana Fisher, 16, was approached repeatedly by Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, Fisher’s mother said - and so she became a victim in his alleged rampage
Shana Fisher, 16, was approached repeatedly by Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, Fisher’s mother said - and so she became a victim in his alleged rampage
The family of one of the victim’s in the Texas high school shooting says they believe their daughter was targeted because she repeatedly rejected the gunman’s advances to date her.
Shana Fisher, a 16-year-old student, was one of the 10 killed in Friday’s attack at Santa Fe High School. Her mother, Sadie Baze, said the shooting followed four months of advancements from the suspected gunman, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, which could point to a potential motive.
She “had four months of problems” with Pagourtzis, her mother, Sadie Rodriguez, told the Los Angeles Times. “He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no.”
But Pagourtzis continued to get more aggressive, Rodriguez said.
A week before the shooting, Fisher embarrassed him in front of others in a class by standing up and telling Pagourtzis that she wouldn’t go out with him, Rodriguez told CNN.
Rodriguez said Pagourtzis had dated Fisher’s best friend and she had told her daughter “you don’t date your friend’s exes.”
Police haven’t released a motive in the attack, but after Pagourtzis was arrested he told officers that he targeted students he didn’t like and wanted his story told, according to an affidavit filed in Galveston County court.
Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, is seen after he was arrested on suspicion of killing 10 people and injuring 10 more in a high-school shooting on Friday. Photo: Galveston County Sheriff Office via EPA-EFE
Pagourtzis had posted photos of firearms, a knife and a custom-made T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Born to Kill” on his social media pages. He also posted a photo of a coat that included the Iron Cross insignia.
He wore a trench coat to mask the shotgun and .38 revolver he brought in the school, authorities say.
Pagourtzis centred his attack in the school’s art complex, barricading himself inside from the fusillade of police officers’ bullets that rained on him there, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said.
He surrendered to police about 30 minutes after the shooting began.
While Pagourtzis faces charges of capital murder and aggravated assault on a peace officer, he cannot face the death penalty, according to a 2005 federal Supreme Court ruling.