MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities are still stumped as to what motivated a 19-year-old Oak Creek High School student to shoot and kill two fellow students and wound a teacher, a senior law enforcement official said Wednesday.
The motorcade of 19-year-old Oliver Mateo LeGendre, who is also a senior, and the school’s theater teacher, will forever be remembered as a tragedy that highlights the devastating consequences of gun violence in schools.
It’s clear that LeGendre knew his actions would have severe consequences, but it’s unclear what specific issues he was trying to address by opening fire in the crowded hallway. Investigators have not found any evidence of a specific target or direct threat, leaving the motive behind the shooting a mystery.
While authorities have identified several potential motives that have been widely reported during the investigation, including bullying, there is no evidence that this was the primary driver of the shooting, said Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. Other potential motives, such as a fascination with school violence or a desire for notoriety, have also been raised, but they have not been proven.
“This is just one of those situations where, unfortunately, we may never know why someone would do this,” Barrett said at a Wednesday news conference. “And we may have to accept that. What we do know is that it’s an unmitigated tragedy that has left our community reeling.”
