From callous mass killer to shuffling coward: Texas school gunman, 17, refuses to look up and timidly answers judge in his first court appearance as cops hunt for MORE explosives he may have planted
Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, appeared in front of a Galveston, Texas judge for the first time on Friday evening
He is charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer in school shooting massacre
Shooting took place between 7.30 and 7.45am in an art class at Santa Fe High School, which he attends
Law enforcement officials say as many as 10 people are dead and 10 are injured, including a police officer
Pagourtzis was armed with his father’s legally owned shotgun and pistol and allegedly planted bombs
Officials say suspect left explosive devices inside the school building and at another site off campus
President Donald Trump and the first lady both tweeted about the shooting, as did VP Pence
Pagourtzis plays JV football for Santa Fe High, and does traditional Greek dance through an Orthodox Church
He would wear the same black trenchcoat festooned with Nazi, Communist and occult pins every day
Pagourtzis’s friend said he has interest in guns and war simulation games, but has never talked about killing
Texas Gov Greg Abbott says Pagourtzis originally intended to commit suicide, but instead surrendered
By KEITH GRIFFITH and SNEJANA FARBEROV
DAILYMAIL.COM
19 May 2018
The 17-year-old gunman accused of killing ten in a cold-blooded shooting rampage at his high school has appeared in court for the first time, as cops race to find potential hidden bombs.
Dimitrios Pagourtzis shuffled before a judge in Galveston, Texas on Friday, to hear his rights and the charges against him.
‘Yes sir,’ he replied softly two times in a row to confirm that he is a US citizen and would be requesting a court-appointed attorney.
Asked if he was out on bond on any other charges, Pagourtzis, who has no known criminal record, quietly replied ‘No sir’ to the judge.
Pagourtzis was denied bond. He is being held in solitary confinement in the Galveston County jail on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer. He did not enter a plea in his initial appearance.
The accused killer hung his head during the appearance and was clad in a drab green prison outfit, handcuffed and surrounded by deputies.
If convicted he would face the death penalty.
According to court documents, Pagourtzis confessed to the shooting and also said he spared the students he liked so he could ‘have his story told’.
Pagourtzis was clad in a ‘Born to Kill’ T-shirt and black trenchcoat when he embarked on his rampage during first period at Santa Fe High School in Texas on Friday morning, yelling ‘Surprise!’ while brandishing his father’s shotgun and pistol, before opening fire and gunning down eight students and two teachers, police say.
He subsequently surrendered when confronted by police, who say he backed out of his original plan to commit suicide at the end of the massacre, but not before planting explosives around the school.
The Rest…HERE
