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A Gunman Opened Fire At A School In Russia, Killing Seven Children And Two Adults

A gunman opened fire at a school in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday May 11, killing seven children and two adults and injuring 21 other people, mostly children.

Wendy Chuang

Wendy Chuang

— 2 min read
A Gunman Opened Fire At A School In Russia, Killing Seven Children And Two Adults

A gunman opened fire at a school in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday May 11, killing seven children and two adults and injuring 21 other people, mostly children.

Authorities confirmed that four boys and three girls, a woman teacher and a woman school worker were killed in the attack, which occurred at 9:20 am local time at School No. 175.

People react at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan.
People react at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

A 19-year-old former male student at the school has been detained and charged for the shooting.

“Everyone started panicking and saying shut the doors,” a student told the Mediazona news website. “About a minute later the headteacher started yelling: ‘We’re shutting the doors!'”

Mourners lay flowers at the grave of English teacher Elvira Ignatyeva, who was killed during a shooting at School No. 175, during her funeral in Kazan.
Mourners lay flowers at the grave of English teacher Elvira Ignatyeva, who was killed during a shooting at School No. 175, during her funeral in Kazan. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Witnesses told local media that there had been an explosion before the shooting began, although it was not immediately clear what caused the blast, CNN reported.

Relatives and friends grieve during the funeral of a school shooting victim, teacher Elvira Ignatyeva, at Samosyrovskoye Cemetery.
Relatives and friends grieve during the funeral of a school shooting victim, teacher Elvira Ignatyeva, at Samosyrovskoye Cemetery. (Photo by Yegor Aleyev\TASS via Getty Images)

Videos and photos showed several students jumping out of the window to escape. Russian TV reported that two of the children had died after jumping from a window on the second floor, according to the BBC.

People lay flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan.
People lay flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities said the student owned the license for a semi-automatic shotgun and used it as a weapon.

A woman cries at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan.
A woman cries at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

People are calling on authorities to raise the minimum age for gun license holders, which is currently 18.

Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families and said he will review Russia’s gun laws.

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