TUUSULA, Finland – An 18-year-old man opened fire at a Finland high school, killing eight and wounding 12, Nov. 7. He then turned the weapon on himself but survived.
The shooting took place at 10 a.m. at Jokela High School, which is attended by more than 400 students between the ages of 12 and 18. The shooter is reportedly an 18-year-old male named Pekka-Eric Auvinen. He used a .22-caliber pistol during his attack. According to news reports, Auvinen posted warning videos on the popular Web site YouTube of the massacre.
Auvinen was in critical condition when he was taken to Toolo Hospital. Medical personnel did not say what his injuries were; however, the suspect did attempt to take his own life.
A teacher at the school, Kim Kiuru, stated that although a message had been given just before noon over the PA system for students and teachers to stay in their classrooms, he fled after seeing the suspect approach his door. As he fled, he saw a woman’s body on the floor.
He informed his students to jump out of the windows. All of his students were saved. The school’s headmistress, however, is said to be one of the fatalities.
Police said upon viewing his clips on YouTube, they determined that Auvinen was fascinated with killing. He allegedly posted his videos under the name “Sturmgeist89.” “Sturmgeist” means “storm spirit” in German.
A video removed from the Web site displayed a picture of the high school that disintegrates. It also shows photos of Auvinen holding a handgun. In the background, the song “Stray Bullet” by the rock band KMFDM was playing. The lyrics of the song were previously quoted by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the students involved in the Columbine High School shooting.
This is the first known school shooting for Finland.
