Key Takeaways:
– The Wisconsin middle school gunman, Damian Haglund, frequently referred to mass shootings on his social media platforms.
– Postings made under the name ‘Fritzsche Letvan’ exhibits Haglund’s disturbing admiration for Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook shooter.
– Haglund’s digital manifesto discloses his feelings of disregard and alienation but did not express any animosity towards LGBTQ+ or Jewish communities.
– Haglund’s shocking online activity frequently mentions Columbine shooter, Dylan Klebold.
Details of Disturbing Online Activity
Online posts from 14-year-old Damian Haglund, the alleged Wisconsin school gunman, unveiled his apparent fascination with mass shootings, particularly Sandy Hook and Columbine. On a social media page under the alias ‘Fritzsche Letvan’, Haglund repeatedly made references to notorious criminals like Adam Lanza and Dylan Klebold. He expressed a strong sense of identification with Lanza, describing him as “the most out of the scum bunch”.
Haglund’s Disturbing Manifesto
In what can be called a chilling manifesto, the Wisconsin native talks about feeling out of place in school, his disdain for popularity, and his perceived social problems. The manifesto denies any feeling of being bullied, but admits he felt ‘left out’. Yet, he showed no express animosity towards the LGBTQ+ or Jewish communities contrary to the assumptions some might make based on his disturbing digital footprints.
Recurring Columbine References
Littering his digital accounts, under his ‘Fritzsche Letvan’ alias, are frequent references to Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold. A post celebrating ‘420’, the date of the Columbine massacre, and replies discussing bringing back Columbine, were found on his accounts. Other posts, including one from April 27, had pleas for help from Columbine.
The Death of Damian Haglund
May 1 witnessed a horrifying incident as Haglund allegedly attempted to breach his middle school with a rifle. Before he could gain entry, law enforcement officials intervened and shot him dead, according to a Wisconsin Department of Justice news release.
Confirmation of Haglund’s Identity as ‘Fritzsche Letvan’
Law enforcement sources confirmed to Heavy the connection between the accused shooter and the ‘Fritzsche Letvan’ online identity. Linked to his page were his TikTok and YouTube accounts, all now deactivated, which confirmed his identity as the Mount Horeb suspect.
Verification of Damian Haglund as the Suspect
The Wisconsin Department of Justice took the lead in the public release of details, confirming that the suspect was a student at Mount Horeb Middle School. Damian Haglund was publicly named as the active shooter by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Disturbing Snapchat Messages
In addition to his online posts, Haglund reportedly shared cryptic messages on Snapchat before the incident. His posts included “Break free from the chains of slavery, cheers to the blood” in Finnish and “My dad is a war criminal” in Bosnian.
Conclusion
This tragic incident underscores the need for increased mental health support and broadened societal consciousness. Damian Haglund’s documented online fascination with mass shooters and his feelings of alienation serve as stark reminders of the importance of addressing such warning signs proactively.