Lawyer for Santa Fe school shooter says he wasn’t motivated by girl

A defense attorney for the Texas high school shooter claims his client was utterly clueless when asked about a girl he shot and killed who was said to have rejected his repeated advances.

Nicholas Poehl has said there is still no motive for the Friday shooting brought on by 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis that claimed the lives of ten at Santa Fe High School.

The defense attorney denied rumors suggesting Pagourtzis was seeking revenge on one girl he had eyes for, but turned him down.

‘I will say that my client did not recognize the name Shana Fisher,’ Poehl said in a statement seen on NBC News.

Fisher had just celebrated her 16th birthday days before she was killed in the attack during a first period art class.

Her mother, Sadie Rodriguez, said her daughter had been fending off Pagourtzis’ advances for months prior.

A girl he had eyes for, Shana Fisher, is pictured, who was one of ten who died on Friday

Left: A mugshot of Santa Fe High School shooter Dimitrios Pagourtzis is shown, who law enforcement officials took into custody Friday, May 18, 2018. A girl he had eyes for, Shana Fisher, is pictured right, who was one of ten victims to die Friday

Shana Fisher, who turned 16 this month, was in art class when the shooting began at Santa Fe High School

Shana Fisher, who turned 16 this month, was in art class when the shooting began at Santa Fe High School

The suspect, who relatives have described as a ‘quiet and ‘sweet’ person, became more pushy with Fisher recently, before she publicly rejected him during class one day.

The alleged humiliating incident took place one week prior to the shooting, Rodriguez said.

Poehl has suggested that Pagourtzis is ‘still in a state’ and unable to think or speak clearly.

The defense attorney blamed his mental health state while suggesting he is still confused about what happened over the weekend.

‘I think that there is definitely something going on in terms of mental health history,’ Poehl said. 

Lawyers for Texas shooting suspect speak out. Nicholas Poehl (right) claimed his client wasn't motivated by the girl who spurned him

Lawyers for Texas shooting suspect speak out. Nicholas Poehl (right) claimed his client wasn’t motivated by the girl who spurned him

Fischer's mother, Sadie Rodriguez, said her daughter had been fending off Pagourtzis' advances for months prior

Fischer’s mother, Sadie Rodriguez, said her daughter had been fending off Pagourtzis’ advances for months prior

Rodriguez has claimed her daughter was the first person Pagourtzis shot when he opened fire during art class

Rodriguez has claimed her daughter was the first person Pagourtzis shot when he opened fire during art class

Poehel added that he was not aware of the alleged confrontation with Fischer that occurred at school and would not comment further on the matter.

Charging documents stated that Pagourtzis confessed to the shooting. He told investigators he kept the students he liked alive so he could ‘have his story told’.

Rodriguez claimed Fischer was the first person Pagourtzis gunned down.

‘A week later he opens fire on everyone he didn’t like… Shana being the first one,’ the distraught mother told the Los Angeles Times. 

In this May 18, 2018, file photo, law enforcement officers respond to Santa Fe High School after an active shooter was reported on campus in Santa Fe, Texas

In this May 18, 2018, file photo, law enforcement officers respond to Santa Fe High School after an active shooter was reported on campus in Santa Fe, Texas

The Santa Fe High junior, who often wore a trench coat to school, hid a shotgun and handgun in the jacket before he opened fire Friday.

Pagourtzis opened fire during a morning art class, according to an affidavit filed by police. Witnesses said they first heard a shotgun blast through the art room door.

The shooting lasted about 30 minutes in a warren of interconnected classrooms, new witness accounts revealed.

It seems Pagourtzis also planned to kill himself, officials said, but collapsed in cowardly fear when confronted by police.

The suspect is now being held without bond for capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant.

Victims of the Santa Fe High School massacre



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