No, this kid has absolutely no record of any problems in his past. He is described as a quiet kid and a good student. This was his first year at VHS. He moved here a few months ago to live with his father. Previously he had lived with his mom in a Chicago suburb, and the police there say there is no record of contact with the family.
Several students have been interviewed by the local press, and they describe him as quiet and bookish. A couple of the kids have said that they never saw anyone picking on the kid. His family is pretty well known apparently, and considered decent people.
But SOMETHING made him snap. I am certain that with time we will find out much more. The local community, while angry that this happened, has taken the attitude of finding out what happened to this boy, and how could we have spotted the fact that something was going on with him BEFORE he exploded. VHS, as I said in earlier posts, is very hands on with the kids and really quite good at spotting kids who are at risk. My own family has benefitted from their vigilance. I just thank God this kid didn't kill anyone.
Community consensus at the moment is that the school is going to have to install metal detectors. If it happened once, it can happen again, with deadlier results.
pattyjo
While no expert, I am a pediatrician and would offer you these possibilities:
He could be either a bipolar or schizophrenic. Both of these disorders often surface in the teen years and schizophrenia is almost always accompanied by delusions and hallucinations. The paranoid type can do this type of thing (but please understand that the GREAT majority of schizophrenics are non-violent).
Bipolars are less often delusional, but the manic part of the disorder can be similar to schizophrenia.
Was he on any drugs--prescribed or illegal?
And--as you mentioned--incessant bullying can do it.
Best,
PB