The Sunday Guardian

Texas shooter a quiet teenager in trench coat

- REUTERS

en down. Abbott told reporters that entries in the teen’s personal journals, seized by police, showed, “Not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after the shooting.” But, Abbott said, “He didn’t have the courage to commit suicide.” He said the suspected gunman, a junior at Santa Fe High School, was armed with a shotgun and a .38 revolver, both taken from his father, possibly without the parent’s knowledge. Pictures of a Greek festival affiliated with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Galveston showed Dimitrios, dancing with other costumed performers. The pictures were archived on the church’s Facebook page. Dimitrios was identified in a photo caption. One fellow student said Pagourtzis was especially fascinated with Japanese imperialis­m and samurai culture, and inter- ested in mystical and military symbols like the German Iron Cross and hammer and sickle he wore as pins on his clothing. Classmates remembered that he often wore a trench coat, similar to the one authoritie­s said the shooter used to conceal the firearms carried into the school. One student said Pagourtzis kept to himself and “never really talked to other people.” But Clayton George, 16, a sophomore who played football with Pagourtzis this year, said he regularly spoke with him at practice. “He was one of the nicest guys on the football team. Always easy to talk to,” he told Reuters. But, he said, Pagourtzis would sometimes get “poked” by his teammates in locker room horseplay. Pagourtzis was held without bond on Friday, authoritie­s said, at the Galveston County Jail after being charged with capital murder.

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