Argentine METALLICA/MARILYN MANSON Fan Kills Three Classmates, Wounds Five Others

Kelly Hearn of The Washington Times is reporting that a 15-year-old fan of METALLICA and MARILYN MANSON was responsible for the deadliest school shooting in Argentine history last week when he stood up in a classroom in the town of Carmen de Patagones and fatally shot three classmates and wounded five others. He used a 9-mm pistol that belonged to his father, a policeman.

The shooting reportedly came days after students were shown the Michael Moore film "Bowling for Columbine", prompting nationwide soul-searching over violence in popular culture.

News that students at the Isla de Malvinas school had seen the documentary days before the shooting prompted one newspaper to run the headline "Bowling for Patagones". The term now has made it into the global Internet culture, posted on blogs and on web sites.

"I think there was a lot of influence from Columbine," says Mirta Beirro, 28, a hotel worker in Buenos Aires. "He was listening to MARILYN MANSON and was into that culture. Many young people here are influenced by what they see on the television."

Suzanna Murillo, a former grade-school teacher, refused to place the blame entirely on the documentary film about the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which two students killed 13 persons and injured 21.

She said the film was only part of an excessive consumption of all types of violent programming.

"Unfortunately, children are getting to a point where they think everything is violent," Miss Murillo said.

Rafael S. is being held in custody as a judge decides his fate. Because of his age, he cannot be tried for murder under Argentine law. Read more.