ST. LOUIS– Counseling services are being expanded this week to help students, staff or family members following last week’s deadly shooting at two St. Louis Public School (SLPS) high schools. 

Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience remain closed this week. 

SLPS is offering comprehensive counseling services for school requesting support across the district. In-person counseling is being offered at Power4STL at The Delmar Divine. There are also virtual sessions being held. You can find a complete list of behavioral response resources on the SLPS website.

The district says it is also working closely with the experts from the U.S. Department of Education on a long-term plan to help the district through this difficult time. 

Jean Kuczka, a P.E. teacher killed during last week’s shooting, was laid to rest Monday. 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell also died in the school shooting. Her funeral is planned for next weekend. 

Flags will fly at half-staff at all SLPS properties until further notice. 

Authorities say former student, 19-year-old Orlando Harris, forcefully entered the school, killing Kuczka and Bell, and injuring several others. 

Police said that when Harris shot at officers, they shot back and broke through the door. Harris died during the exchange.

Harris’ family says their loved one suffered from mental illness and they worked with him to get help. 

An FBI background check denied Harris from buying a gun from a federally licensed dealer, but he instead purchased it from a private seller, according to police.

The firearm used in the shooting was removed from Harris’ house after his mother called police earlier in October. Officers say Harris was lawfully permitted to have the weapon and because Missouri does not have a Red Flag Law, they couldn’t seize it. A family acquaintance removed it from the home but it is unclear Harris regained possession. 

Police are still working to determine how the suspect got the more than 600 rounds of ammunition.