A Shocking Day in Graz: Teacher's Close Call Amid School Shooting
On a day that will linger painfully in the memories of many, a tragic shooting unfolded at a secondary school in Graz, Austria, leaving 10 dead and 12 injured. Among those caught in the chaos was Paul G. Nitsche, a 51-year-old religion teacher who narrowly escaped the gunman by sheer instinct and quick thinking.
Frozen Moment: Encountering the Shooter
It began in an otherwise quiet classroom on the upper floor of Dreierschuetzengasse secondary school, where Mr. Nitsche was alone with his door open while students took their exams elsewhere. Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the silence. At first, Nitsche tried to dismiss it, but the sharper sound of bullet casings hitting the corridor floor snapped him into reality.
“I realized that as a teacher alone with a possible attacker, I was in grave danger. I decided to flee immediately,” Nitsche recounted, racing through the corridor and down the stairs. But fate had another test in store—as he reached the lower floor, he came face-to-face with the shooter just outside a classroom.
Surreal and Terrifying: "This Isn't Real"
The armed assailant was busy trying to shoot open a classroom door, absorbed in his deadly mission. Nitsche said he didn’t hesitate but bolted down the stairs, all the while struggling to absorb the gravity of the moment. “It felt like a film,” he said. The tension broke when he saw a student lying on the floor and a fellow teacher nearby, underscoring the brutal reality.
Despite the chaos, an eerie silence fell over the school. “There was total silence. No screaming, which is unlike any school I’ve known,” Nitsche observed. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, entering the building fully equipped to confront the tragedy.
A City and Nation in Mourning
Austria, a country known for its tranquil Alpine charm, is grappling with this unprecedented act of violence. The shooter, identified as a 21-year-old former student, ended his own life after the attack. Authorities uncovered a non-functional homemade bomb at his residence and a farewell letter addressed to his parents, though his motives remain unclear.
Community Grieves Together
The community of Graz is visibly shaken. Close to the school, a solemn black banner reading “Graz stands together” was hung as a symbol of solidarity. Small groups of students, many dressed in black and mourning, gathered to leave candles, creating a quiet vigil outside the school’s closed gates.
Michael Saad, a local student, reflected the mood: “The whole city, and probably the entire country, are reeling from this. We’re struggling to find the words.” Hundreds convened at the central square, united in grief while comforting one another.
Enduring Impact and Support
In the aftermath, Mr. Nitsche returned to support his students, offering comfort during an unimaginable crisis. His experience is just one fragment of the heartbreak faced by many. As authorities continue to investigate the incident, the people of Graz stand resilient—determined to heal while honoring those whose lives were tragically cut short.
For many, this event marks a somber turning point, sparking conversations about safety, mental health, and community support in times of crisis.
