ST. LOUIS — The family of the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School shooter said they made many calls for help beforehand.
Orlando Harris was 19 years old when he opened fire at CVPA in October 2022. A student and teacher were killed, and four others were hurt. Wednesday, police released body camera video of a call to the gunman's home days before the shooting.
Harris’ own worried family made the call. A Missouri lawmaker argued that if the state had what's known as a Red Flag Law, police could've intervened right then and there and confiscated his gun.
"Is it the front door? I guess the side door is like the back,” two officers are heard saying while approaching the home.
It was Oct. 15, 2022. St. Louis police body camera video shows the officers arriving at the home after Harris’ mother was worried he had just bought a rifle.
"Depression. He tried to commit suicide three times,” his mom told officers.
"Is he on medication?” one asked.
“He was on medication, but I don't know if he's taking the medication,” she responded.
Officers chat with Harris who made it clear he had just spent money to get the gun he wanted.
"I just spent my money, man,” he said angrily.
“Hold on, I get it, I get it,” the officers said in a placating tone.
In the end, officers had no choice but to leave.
"If you want to own a firearm, you’re an American. You’re over 18. You’re allowed to have a firearm if you want a firearm,” one the officers told Harris.
Nine days later, the former CVPA student showed up to the school, shooting and killing a classmate and a teacher.
“Officers did not have any lawful authority to seize or take a firearm,” Sgt. Charles Wall reiterated Wednesday.
Shortly after the tragedy, 5 On Your Side Political Editor Mark Maxwell questioned Missouri Gov. Mike Parson about the state's lack of a Red Flag Law. That’s a measure Illinois has in place, giving police the means to confiscate a gun if someone shows signs of being a threat to themselves or to others.
"All the red flags were there. Why weren’t the Red Flag Laws?” Maxwell questioned.
“The Red Flag Laws have never been in place in Missouri,” Parson replied in 2022. “You’re talking about somebody with a mental illness that went into and committed a criminal act."
"You can empathize with the mother whose saying something is going on. She's pointing out the vest,” Sen. Karla May said after watching the body cam video.
She said she tried to get a Red Flag law passed this session. She said her counterparts didn't give it a chance.
"I think it's our responsibility as lawmakers to give police the tools they need to do their job…But we also failed that mother and also the families that had to go through the tragedy of this shooting,” she said.
The shooter first tried to buy a gun from a dealer in St. Charles, but an FBI background check blocked it. He then went to a private seller.
As of now, only certain people in Missouri can have their gun confiscated: convicted felons, habitual drug users, or those deemed mentally incompetent through the courts.