In a distressing incident at a secondary school in Bryansk, Russia, a 14-year-old girl fatally shot a fellow pupil and injured five others before taking her own life, as revealed by officials. On Thursday, investigators indicated that they are actively working to understand both the motive behind the shooting and how the student gained access to the pump-action shotgun used in the tragic event.
According to preliminary investigation findings, the 14-year-old girl brought the firearm to Gymnasium Number Five, where she fired shots at her classmates, resulting in two fatalities, including the shooter, and five injured children who have been transported to a medical facility. Although the authorities did not disclose the shooter’s identity, they mentioned that the victim was a female classmate.
Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the region, labeled the incident a “terrible tragedy,” acknowledging that they are collaboratively investigating how the student acquired and brought the weapon to school.
Video footage shared by RIA Novosti depicted children seeking refuge in a classroom, barricading themselves behind a door with upended desks and chairs during the attack.
The authorities, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, are diligently working to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the student’s access to the weapon.
Reports also suggest that investigators are questioning the father of the attacker. The motive for the shooting is under scrutiny by Russia’s interior ministry.
Despite the rarity of school shootings in Russia, the country has stringent regulations on civilian firearm ownership, allowing certain categories of guns for purposes such as hunting, self-defense, or sport, subject to tests and other requirements.
This incident follows previous school shootings in Russia, including one in Izhevsk on September 26, 2022, where a 34-year-old gunman claimed the lives of 17 people, including 11 children.
Another tragic event occurred on May 11 last year in Kazan, where a teenager killed seven children and two teachers, prompting President Vladimir Putin to tighten gun ownership laws.
The legal age to purchase firearms in Russia was subsequently raised from 18 to 21.
The deadliest school shooting in Russia occurred in 2018 when an 18-year-old college student in Kerch, annexed Crimea, killed 20 people, including himself, and wounded 67. It is worth noting that the first recorded school shooting in Russia transpired in 2014.
