The shooter suspected of murdering a teacher and a student at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday attempted to buy a gun from a licensed dealer earlier this month. St. Louis Police say on October that 19-year-old Orland Harris tried to purchase a firearm from a dealer in St. Charles, but an FBI background check blocked the sale. However, Harris was able to successfully purchase the AR-15 rifle he used Monday from a private seller, who purchased the weapon from a federally licensed dealer in December 2020.