On Friday, an 18-year-old high school senior Karl Pierson entered the Arapahoe High School in Centennial, CO and opened fire, critically injuring 17-year-old Claire Esther Davis. Pierson was armed with a shotgun, machete and three Molotov cocktails as he sought out his alleged target, his former debate coach Tracy Murphy. Murphy runs the school’s debate team and disciplined Pierson in September, removing him from the team. The incident began at 12:33pm when Pierson entered the school and fired a shot down a hallway. Murphy was alerted to the threat and escorted outside by a school janitor who called security. Pierson then entered an area where Davis was sitting with a friend and shot her “point-blank” in the head. He fired an additional shot down one of the hallways before entering the library, where he fired another shot and ignited one of the Molotov cocktails. The device set three bookshelves on fire and permeated smoke through the library. A deputy sheriff, working at the school as a resource officer, responded along with an unarmed security officer and two administrators. As they attempted to contain the shooter in the library, Pierson turned the gun on himself and took his own life. Following the incident, police executed search warrants for Pierson’s mother’s house, father’s house and his car; however, it is unclear what was discovered. Davis is currently in a coma at a Littleton Adventist Hospital.
Key Points
- Pierson legally obtained the 12-gauge shotgun at a local outlet on December 6. He purchased ammunition a day before the shooting.
- According to a member of the school’s debate team, Pierson had been reading “The Anarchist Cookbook” for almost two years. The manual includes bomb-making instructions.
- Witnesses say Pierson was dressed in tactical gear, including a black face cover and black hoodie.
- After the first shot, the school was immediately placed on lockdown. Once it was over, students were evacuated and convened at the Shepard of the Hills church.
- The entire incident occurred within one minute and 20 seconds.
The MSA Research and Intelligence Analysis (RIA) Group has been monitoring this situation, and has identified the following implications:
Authorities suggest Pierson’s motive for the shooting was to seek revenge on Murphy. However, he was heavily armed and fired a few random shots, which indicates he was capable of attacking more than just his intended target. The shooting showcases how quickly active shooters can inflict harm as it occurred in just 80 seconds. There also seems to be a trend among younger shooters who tend to wear tactical, combat gear when conducting their attacks.
The attack may have been planned several months in advance. Pierson purchased the gun several days ahead of time, just a few months after his eighteenth birthday. He was likely able to assemble the Molotov cocktails from reading “The Anarchist Cookbook.” The manual and other similar materials are easily accessible online.
Police praised Murphy’s “tactical decision” to leave the school, saying that it might have encouraged the shooter to also leave the facility where he would have been met by police force. Pierson died from a self-inflicted gun wound which authorities say was likely due to the pressure he faced from those responding to the shooting.
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