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A gunman dressed entirely in black opened fire on a St. Louis performing arts school on Monday, shooting dead a female adult and a teenage girl being killed by police. 

Shortly after 9am, the shooter – described as a 20-year-old man – burst into the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and screamed ‘you’re all going to die’. 

Two of the victims – an adult woman and a teenage girl – were pronounced dead at the scene. The other seven who were injured were taken to the hospital and it remains unclear how seriously they are hurt. 

Their injuries range from gunshot wounds to shrapnel injuries and even cardiac arrest.  

The shooter has not been named and it remains unclear how gained access to the building; police insist the doors were locked this morning, but won’t say how he was able to get inside. 

Terrified students escaped the school by climbing through windows and onto roofs. The gunman was killed by police after shooting two people dead

Terrified students escaped the school by climbing through windows and onto roofs. The gunman was killed by police after shooting two people dead 

Students stand in a parking lot near the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a reported shooting at the school in St. Louis on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022

Students stand in a parking lot near the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a reported shooting at the school in St. Louis on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022

This was the scene outside of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis Monday morning after a gunman opened fire and killed two people

This was the scene outside of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis Monday morning after a gunman opened fire and killed two people 

Students were less than four hours into the school day when they were evacuated due to an active shooter in the building

Students were less than four hours into the school day when they were evacuated due to an active shooter in the building

A flurry of police cars were spotted Monday morning outside of the Missouri school

A flurry of police cars were spotted Monday morning outside of the Missouri school 

Sack said that as students were running out of the building, several told police officers that the suspect was inside and had a ‘long gun.’ 

‘As kids were fleeing out of the building, they talked to some of the kids who told them that there was a shooter armed with a long gun,’ Sack said during the press conference. 

The officers then entered the school, located the shooter, and fatally shot the suspect, he continued. ‘There was an exchange of gunfire’ after the officers had located the suspect, the commissioner stated. He also said that it’s unclear at this time how the suspect got in. 

‘The doors were locked’ said Sack. 

Additionally, one district officials said that there were seven security officers inside of the building before police arrived at the scene.  

After a reporter asked the police commissioner how the gunman did manage to get in, Sack responded: ‘We’re not going to talk about how the suspect gained entry.’  

‘This is a day of tragedy,’ said Mayor Tishuara Jones. 

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School 

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in St. Louis

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in St. Louis

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in St. Louis

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in St. Louis

‘I’m stressed and I’m heartbroken, I’m heartbroken for these families,’ said Jones. ‘Our children shouldn’t have to experience this. They shouldn’t have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens and unfortunately that happened today.’ 

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Jones also responded earlier in the day to the news of the shooting in a grim tweet posted just before 10.30am. ‘Help us Jesus,’ Jones wrote Monday. 

The group also applauded the quick work of the officers who ‘ran to that gunfire’ inside of the school. 

‘I also want to thank our first responders who ran in and made sure our babies were safe and took care of the situation, sooner rather than later,’ Mayor Jones said. 

‘I do believe that their quick actions saved lives, so thank you to the police department’ another school official said.

Congresswoman Cori Bush was also present at the press conference. The Democrat represents the district where St. Louis is located. 

‘Today is one of those days, those days that we pray, we pray never happens across this country,’ Rep. Bush said. 

‘We want to thank again our first responders, but we also want to thank those teachers and school staff and administrators that were in place and moving and ready,’ the congresswoman said. ‘Those that were there to support the students and those that are there right now.’

Rep. Bush said that any families or victims ‘who don’t know who to talk to,’ can call her office, stating that the phone lines will be open for those who need help. 

‘Police are on site at Central Visual and Performing Arts this morning following reports of an active shooter and both CVPA and Collegiate are on lockdown,’ St. Louis Public Schools tweeted out Monday morning. 

The post from the district says that the ‘shooter was quickly stopped by police inside CVPA.’

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As of just before 11am Eastern Standard Time, officials were still evacuating students from the school.

Those students were taken to ‘safe and secure’ sites.

‘We will send information on where parents can reunite with students,’ the district said. 

They later revealed that parents and students could reunite at the Gateway STEM School, located two miles from CVAP. 

The school district asked officials Monday to avoid the area of S. King’s Highway to Arsenal Street ‘until further notice.’ 

‘This investigation is ongoing.’  

Missouri Governor Mike Parson responded to the shooting Monday in a social media post, thanking the police who arrived at the scene and saying that he is ‘praying’ for the victims.

‘Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this morning’s shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. Our office has been briefed on this tragedy.

‘State Public Safety officials are coordinating with local law enforcement and have offered any state resources necessary to assist with the investigation.

‘St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL) quickly arrived on scene and immediately went to the sound of gunfire to protect lives, secure the area, and eliminate the threat.

‘Teresa and I are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community.’

U.S. Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine, a Democrat running for an open seat in Missouri, also reacted to the news in a tweet, sharing her own feelings of heartbreak as a ‘mother and grandmother.’   

‘As mother and grandmother myself, I’m shocked and praying for all those affected—students, parents, faculty, and in the community. I’m grateful to brave law enforcement for their quick response. 

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