Emma Leitner, Jakob Weiss, Sophie Gruber, Lukas Thalberg, Nina Hartwig, the Compassionate Educator, the Bright-Eyed Freshman, and the Beloved Counselor Among Those Whose Lives Were Taken in the BORG Dreierschützengasse School Shooting in Graz, Austria, as the Nation Grapples with a Shattering Act of Violence

In a horrifying act that has plunged the city of Graz into mourning and sent shockwaves across Austria and Europe, eight lives—each one cherished, full of promise, or deeply embedded in the hearts of their communities—were tragically taken in a brutal shooting spree at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school on the morning of Tuesday, June 10th. The attack began just minutes before 10:00 a.m., erupting without warning in the middle of what should have been an ordinary school day, and unfolded with terrifying speed as a lone assailant stormed into two classrooms wielding a firearm and unleashed a barrage of bullets, targeting both students and staff.

Among the victims confirmed by local authorities and grieving family members are 17-year-old Emma Leitner, known for her passion for classical violin and her quiet leadership in the school’s student union; 16-year-old Jakob Weiss, a witty, tech-savvy teen with dreams of becoming a software engineer; 18-year-old Sophie Gruber, a top student and aspiring journalist who had recently been accepted into a summer internship at a local newspaper; and 17-year-old Lukas Thalberg, a gentle and thoughtful young man active in volunteer outreach for refugees and a regular presence in the school library. Also lost was 15-year-old Nina Hartwig, a bright-eyed freshman whose artistic flair and boundless enthusiasm had already endeared her to older students and teachers alike.

In addition to the five students, the shooter also claimed the lives of three adults working at the school. One of them has only been identified by staff as “the Compassionate Educator,” a veteran mathematics teacher who had taught generations of students and was beloved for his firm but fair mentorship. Another victim, referred to by several survivors as “the Beloved Counselor,” had been instrumental in student mental health initiatives and was often the first adult students would turn to in times of crisis. The final adult victim, remembered as “the Bright-Eyed Freshman’s Literature Teacher,” had only recently transferred to the school and had quickly built a reputation as a dedicated and encouraging figure in the classroom.

The atmosphere at the school, nestled in the heart of Austria’s second-largest city, was initially routine—students were preparing for exams, some classrooms engaged in morning lectures, others in project presentations. Then, in what witnesses describe as a “moment of sudden terror,” gunfire shattered the calm. According to preliminary investigations and interviews conducted with students and teachers who managed to escape or hide, the shooter moved with chilling deliberation between two adjacent classrooms located on the second floor of the building.

“He didn’t say a word,” said one student survivor who spoke anonymously to Kronen Zeitung, the Austrian daily newspaper. “He just came in and started firing. At first, we thought it was a prank or firecrackers. But then the screams started.” This account was corroborated by others who described hearing between 15 and 25 shots in rapid succession. Many students dropped to the floor or hid under desks, some texting loved ones with trembling hands, while teachers tried in vain to shield their pupils or barricade the doors.

The Graz police department responded within minutes of receiving distress calls, with heavily armed units storming the building and evacuating students class by class. Emergency medical responders were dispatched to the site in waves, attending to the injured and transporting several to nearby LKH University Hospital and St. Leonhard Clinic. While exact numbers are still being verified, at least 12 others were injured, several of them critically, with trauma surgeons and counselors working tirelessly throughout the day to stabilize and support survivors.

The shooter, described only as a male in his late teens, was reportedly apprehended after a brief standoff with law enforcement. Authorities have confirmed that he was a former student of BORG Dreierschützengasse and had a history of behavioral issues, though no previous acts of violence had been officially recorded. Police have not yet released his name, citing ongoing investigations and legal constraints. However, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated in a press briefing that preliminary evidence points to careful premeditation. “This was not a spontaneous outburst,” Karner said. “We have reason to believe that the attacker planned this atrocity in advance and may have intended to do even more harm.”

Amid the chaos and grief, stories of courage have begun to emerge. A young science teacher reportedly shielded several students with her body, suffering injuries but surviving. A janitor helped guide nearly a dozen panicked students out through a maintenance stairwell, preventing what could have been additional casualties. Even in the darkest moments, acts of humanity and solidarity surfaced.

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the incident “a day of national sorrow” and ordered all public buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the remainder of the week. In an emotional address to the nation, he said: “Today, we mourn not just eight lives taken far too soon, but the innocence shattered in every classroom, every hallway of BORG Dreierschützengasse. Our entire country wraps its arms around the grieving families, the survivors, and the city of Graz.”

Schools across Styria, the federal state in which Graz is located, have implemented heightened security protocols. Counseling services are being offered not only to students at the affected school but also to others in the surrounding region who may be emotionally impacted by the tragedy. A national moment of silence has been scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 a.m., exactly 48 hours after the shooting began.

As forensic teams continue to examine the crime scene and investigators search for answers regarding motive, the community has begun organizing vigils and memorial services. Outside the school gates, flowers, candles, and handwritten notes now line the sidewalk. Messages such as “Für immer in unseren Herzen” (Forever in our hearts) and “Ruht in Frieden, unsere Engel” (Rest in peace, our angels) bear testament to the profound grief felt not only by families but by classmates, teachers, and neighbors.

Meanwhile, political debate over Austria’s gun laws—among the strictest in Europe—has reignited. While officials emphasized that the weapon used was not legally registered to the shooter, opposition leaders and civil society groups are calling for an even more comprehensive crackdown on illegal firearms and stronger preventive measures around mental health screenings in schools.

At the heart of the tragedy, however, remain the individual lives lost: Emma, Jakob, Sophie, Lukas, Nina, and three educators who dedicated themselves to the wellbeing and education of others. Each of them represented a story, a set of aspirations, relationships, and achievements that ended violently and without warning. Their deaths leave behind not only broken families and traumatized friends but also a nation forced to confront deep questions about safety, mental health, and the cost of inaction.

As Graz begins its long road to healing, the names of the victims are being etched into the collective memory of Austria—not just as numbers in a death toll, but as individuals whose presence once filled classrooms with music, laughter, curiosity, and guidance. In memorials, prayers, and quiet reflection, their lives are honored—never forgotten, always mourned.