On May 18, 2018, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis entered Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, armed with a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver. Both weapons belonged to his father. Just before 8:00 a.m., he opened fire inside an art classroom, targeting students and teachers with deadly precision. The attack lasted about 25 minutes before Pagourtzis surrendered to police without incident.
Ten people were killed—eight students and two teachers. Thirteen others were injured, including a school police officer who was shot while trying to confront the gunman. Witnesses described chaos as students broke windows to escape and others barricaded themselves in classrooms. Pagourtzis, dressed in a trench coat and T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Born to Kill,” reportedly spared certain students, telling them he wanted his story told.
Investigators later found homemade explosive devices both at the school and at his home, though none were successfully detonated. His journals revealed he had been planning the attack for some time and intended to die in the process. He also listed specific targets. Despite these writings and clear premeditation, his motive remained largely unclear. Some who knew him described him as quiet and introverted, though there were reports of bullying and possible anger toward classmates and teachers.
Pagourtzis was taken into custody and charged with capital murder and aggravated assault. He was initially found incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a mental health facility. Multiple evaluations cited schizophrenia and other mental health issues. His legal proceedings have been delayed repeatedly due to his condition, and as of now, he remains confined in a state hospital, unfit for trial.
The Santa Fe High School shooting reignited debates around school safety, mental health treatment, and the accessibility of firearms to minors through family members. It also prompted a series of security upgrades in Texas schools. Despite its scale, the incident received less national attention than previous mass shootings, leaving the Santa Fe community to carry the burden of loss largely on its own.
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