Mormon school shooter wanted to kill 'sinners' who 'smoked cigarettes and took the Lord's name in vain', diary reveals

• Jared Michael Padgett, 15, is the suspected gunman behind Tuesday shooting at Reynolds High School in Portland, Oregon
• On Friday, law enforcement officials revealed that they had found Padgett's journal which detailed a plan to kill 'sinners' at the school
• In the diary, Padgett complained about people who smoked cigarettes and took the Lord's name in vain
  
• The latest revelations come as his parents Michael and Kristina Padgett released a public apology
  
• Padgett was armed with an AR-15 rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a handgun and a knife
• He arrived to campus on the school bus and carried his deadly arsenal in a guitar case
  
• Killed Emilio Hoffman, 14, in school gymnasium and wounded PE teacher, Todd Rispler
• Exchanged gun fire with responding police officers before taking his life while sitting on locker room toilet

By Ashley Collman and James Nye

Published: 18:18 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 12:30 EST, 14 June 2014

The journal of Reynolds High School gunman Jared Michael Padgett is finally shedding some light on why the 15-year-old killed a fellow freshman and injured a teacher in Tuesday's shooting.

Law enforcement officials revealed Friday to KGW that they found Padgett's diary which details a plan to kill 'sinners' at his school who smoked cigarettes and used the Lord's name in vain.

However, it's still uncertain when he wrote about the plot, and there is no indication in the pages that he planned the mass murder for any specific day.

Investigators found the journal in a search of Padgett's father Michael's house just hours after the shooting. They also searched his school locker.

Scroll down for full statement

Named: Jared Michael Padgett, 15, has been named as the gunman at Reynolds High School in Portland, Oregon who killed a fellow student armed with an AR-15 and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. On Friday, investigators revealed details of Padgett's journal which contained plans to kill 'sinners' at his school who smoked cigarettes and took the Lord's name in vain

Brothers: Jared Padgett with his brother - the 15-year-old told some friends he hoped to continue the family tradition of serving in the military

The latest revelations come as Padgett's parents have released a statement apologizing for their son's deadly rampage.

Padgett shot dead fellow freshman Emilio Hoffman, 14, and injured a phsyical education teacher before turning the rifle on himself during the early-morning rampage.

On Friday, Mr Padgett released a letter to KPTV, apologizing on behalf of he and ex-wife Kristina, saying: 'We are finding it very difficult to put into words our state of mind and emotions.'

The Padgetts say they are fully cooperating with authorities but are 'deeply confused and shocked by the information delivered to us by the investigation team.'

Shooter's home: Investigators found the journal in a search of father Michael Padgett's home. Above, the home registered to Michael and Kristina Padgett. It's uncertain whether this is the home where they found the journal since the Padgetts have split

They also apologized to both the family of the victim and Coach Todd Rispler, the PE teacher injured.

'We are deeply sorrowful for the family of Emilio Hoffman and share their pain, heartache, and grief, for the loss of their oldest son and brother of the family.

'We give our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to the family, friends and the entire community and you have our sincerest apology,' they said.

The Padgetts, a family active in a local Mormon church, say they are 'at a loss as to how and why this tragedy unfolded'.

Padgett (second left and circled) is pictured outside his house in a photo posted to a relative's Facebook

'Or family does not condone and has never promoted violence or hatred toward anyone. The values that we have taught our children are love in Jesus Christ, compassion, forgiveness, and patience.

'These were all natural attributes we observed within Jared daily. Knowing that these are the values that we have taught our children, we are horrified and distraught by the actions perpetrated by our son,' The Padgetts said.

Michael Padgett's statement was released the day after Reynolds High School seniors graduated in a somber ceremony.

Hoffman's older brother Joshua Mitchell was part of the graduating class and paid tribute to his fallen sibling by wearing the victim's JV soccer jersey.

Tribute: On Thursday, the senior class of Reynolds High graduated, including victim Emilio Hoffman's older brother Joshua Mitchell (pictured). Mitchell wore his little brother's soccer jersey in the ceremony

After crossing the stage to receive his diploma, Mitchell turned his back to the crowd to show off the jersey and raised his arms. The senior student body stood up in a standing ovation with many in the crowd making the 'I Love You' sign'.

The school also gave a round of applause for Coach Rispler, who ran to the main office to warn the students after being shot at.

In the course of their investigation, police have revealed that Padgett arrived at the school armed with a legally-owned AR-15 rifle and handgun he stole from his home, nine loaded magazines and a knife, all hidden in a guitar case.

Police also confirmed that Padgett was wearing a camouflage helmet and an ammunition vest when he started shooting just after 8am.

Hoffman played on the JV soccer team and was in the men's locker room the morning he was tragically killed

Padgett was known by his classmates as a quiet student from a large military family with a fascination for guns.

Freshman Kaylah Ensign, who knew Padgett since middle school, described a gun-obsessive who lost his temper last week when giving a presentation about a book on Adolf Hitler.

She told OregonLive that she did not recall the name of the book, but when they discussed the Holocaust he said, 'this is life now' and 'everything really does happen for a reason.'

Indeed, Ensign said he became extremely agitated during his presentation about the book on the Nazi leader when members of his class began to disagree with him.

'He got really uptight over it and started raising his voice,' she said, adding that 'he felt as if they were facts.'

Finally, she said, others just stopped arguing with him because of his unnerving reaction.

Other friends described the military enthusiast as someone who was obsessed with detail.

Too young: The student killed in a school shooting in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday has been identified as freshman Emilio Hoffman, a family spokesman has confirmed. The student pictured above in a picture from his Facebook

'He was one of those organized people who liked order, liked everything to be really perfect,' said Agustin Guzman, a 16-year-old who attended Reynolds' Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps with Padgett.

'We have this thing where we had to learn how to fold the American flag correctly and I was in his group. He would get really irritated if we messed up,' Guzman told OregonLive, adding that Padgett showed up with his own Army combat uniform before they were handed out.

On Padgett's Facebook page, the 15-year-old liked two tactical knife companies, M4 assault rifles and political pages such as 'Conservative American Military Veterans Against Barack Obama' and 'We WILL NOT Be Disarmed.'

These strong pro-gun opinions may have been inherited from his family. His brother-in-law Andrew Cooper wrote on Facebook that school shootings could be prevented with more armed guards.

'Dear President Obama, here, I'll help you out to create jobs a little, oh and more importantly- SAVE LIVES; advise the states to employ at least 2 specially trained police officers to constantly patrol all school campuses from kindergarden [sic] through all colleges. Duh,' Cooper wrote in December 2012.

Padgett, whose family attended a Mormon church ward in Hartley Park in Gresham was described by fellow worshiper Earl Milliron, 86 'as a quiet young man who was very involved in the church'.

Fallen friend: Classmates paid tribute to Hoffman on Facebook, remembering him for his friendship and soccer skills

Milliron, who knew the Padgett family said that Padgett was a deacon in the church and that he had known the 15-year-old's father for more than 25 years.

He referenced problems within the family, describing it as having 'had its ups and downs over the years' and revealed that Padgett's parents, Michael and Kristina broke up four or five years ago.

Fellow student, Edgar Machiel, 17, rode the same bus that the heavily armed Padgett did on Tuesday morning and said he was stunned that his neighbor was the shooter.

'He was just normal,' said Machiel to OregonLive. 'It doesn't make any sense.  It's hard to explain.'

Another former neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous said that Padgett was a gun enthusiast who 'had aspirations of joining the military, just like his brother.'

Other students speculating online about the release of Padgett's name recalled that he was a member of Reynolds High School's Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps.

Troutdale Police Chief Scott Anderson revealed that Padgett was armed with a legally owned AR-15 rifle, which he stole from his home and used to open fire and kill Emilio Hoffman, 14 and wound PE teacher Todd Rispler

Troutdale Police Chief Scott Anderson, left, listens as Reynolds School District Superintendent Linda Florence speaks during a news conference at the Troutdale Police Community Center on Wednesday

Police have revealed that Padgett arrived for his shooting spree on the school bus and was heavily armed, with nine loaded magazines, holding several hundred rounds carried in a guitar case

In addition, Padgett's sister, posted her worries about her brother's safety to Facebook in the hours immediately following the shooting.

A classmate of Padgett posted on Padgett’s Facebook wall, saying: 'I had so many classes with you since 7th grade. We were always talking about guns.'

Tyler Denney told journalist Matthew Keys of the Epoch Times that he’s known Padgett 'for ever,' and that he and Padgett were close friends.

'What’s your reaction? Seem out of character?' Keys asked.

'I knew it was him all along,' Denney said.

Another freshman, Jose Garcia also took the bus to school with Padgett that morning.

He said that the shooter was quiet as normal, but unusually was carrying a green duffel bag and black guitar case.

Memorial: Fei Wilkening, who had a daughter graduate from the school four years ago, leaves flowers at a memorial at the entrance to Reynolds High School on Wednesday

Half-staff: Flags fly at half-staff at the school on Wednesday following the shooting on Tuesday

He revealed that when they got off the bus they asked Padgett what was in the bags.

He replied it was sports gear and a guitar stand, which thought to be perfectly reasonably replies.

Garcia said that Padgett would sometimes talk to him on the bus and told him he would work out three times a week and that he wanted to go into the military.

Kaylah Ensign, 15, said she always remembered Padgett's encyclopedic knowledge of weapons.

'It was insane how much he knew,' she said to OregonLive. 'He would say all the types of guns and could name anything.'

It is still uncertain whether Padgett targeted Hoffman or if the ninth-grader just got into the gunman's path.

Padgett, a freshman at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, entered a boys locker room on Tuesday at the gymnasium, where he 'murdered a fellow student,' police Chief Scott Anderson said.

He also wounded Rispler, who managed to make his way to an office and alert officials.

Police said the response from school staff, police and students prevented 'many, many' deaths, given the amount of ammunition Padgett carried.

Nikki Vance, a mother of one junior at the school, said Rispler has been at the school since at least 1999.

She said he is a great coach. 'He is one of those coaches that encourages and takes real pride in his students,' she said to OregonLive. 'I don't know anyone who doesn't like Todd.'

A candlelight vigil was held for Emilio Hoffman on Tuesday following the shooting at Reynolds High School in Oregon

Vigil: A fund has also been set up to help the family pay for his funeral

Supporters attend a candlelight vigil after a shooting at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon

The shooter later encountered officers in a hallway. After a brief exchange of gunfire, he fled into a restroom and was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

'The shooter obtained the weapons from his family home,' Anderson said. 'The weapons had been secured, but he defeated the security measures.'

Police say the shooting occurred in a gym detached from the main school building, with 14-year-old Hoffman killed in the boys' locker room.

In the aftermath, the governor called the violence senseless, the Troutdale mayor praised the police response, and the school district superintendent said she had once hoped she could get through her career without a school shooting.

'HUG YOUR KIDS EVERY DAY. AND LIVE WITH NO REGRETS': MOTHER OF SLAIN REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN ISSUES HEARTFELT STATEMENT

Statement from Jennifer Hoffman, mother of Emilio Hoffman:

We want to share some thoughts about Emilio with the community.

Emilio lived in the Gresham/Troutdale area his whole life. He attended Kelly Creek Elementary, Gresham Arthur Academy, Reynolds Arthur Academy, and Walt Morey Middle School.

Emilio has one sister and three brothers as well as an extended family, including a number of foster brothers and sisters who he grew up with over the years.

He enjoyed science and history, but his true love was sports. Over the years he played t-ball and football, but when he found soccer, that was it. Soccer was his whole life. He played on a team for La Amistad and the Columbia River United Futbol Academy (CRUFA), local soccer leagues. He also coached a U7 team for TFA Barcelona Oregon for two of his younger brothers.

When we attended the candlelight vigil last night, we were humbled by the response from his friends, teachers and community. Emilio loved his friends, and his friends loved him.

To those friends we say - be happy like Emilio. Smile like him. Laugh like him.

You couldn't be around Emilio without laughing! Anyone who has ever met Emilio laughed with him. He had to be the center of attention at all times!

To the parents out there - Love your kids. Hug your kids every day. And live with no regrets. I don't have any regrets with Emilio. None. And he knew that.

Thank you for all of your support. It has provided comfort, and it is good to know how much Emilio was loved ... not just by us, but by everybody.

Hoffman was the only teenage boy in his house, said Savannah Venegas, who dated him a year ago, 'so (his mother) was very protective of him.'

'He was such a good kid, a quiet kid,' Venegas said. 'He didn't stir up trouble. Just a down-to-earth guy.'

Other friends revealed their shock at the death of the popular soccer player.

'Wow I can't believe that you are gone..RIP Emilio Hoffman. You were a great soccer player and a great friend. My prayers go out,' one user wrote.

Reynolds soccer coach Allan Berry described Hoffman as a 'nice, quiet young man' and told the Oregonian he expected the 14-year-old to make the varsity team the next season.

'I'm sure the boys will choose to make this season for him,' Berry said.

Hoffman also played for a club team. Total Futbol Academy Barcelona-Oregon coach Randy Olson called Hoffman an 'all-around good kid' who was apart of their 'soccer family.'

  

Friends, family and well-wishers hold candles for Emilio Hoffman, the victim of a school shooting

Classmates paid tribute to the fallen high-schooler on Twitter, who remembered him as an outgoing student who was an outstanding athlete. According to a roster posted on the school's website, Hoffman played midfielder on the JV soccer team last fall.

According to his Facebook profile, Hoffman was in a relationship with girlfriend Alyssa Karm. In tweets posted after the shooting, Karm called Hoffman her first love.

'#RIPEmilioHoffman I love you so much and I always will. You were my first kiss and the first guy I truly loved. I miss you so much.'

In an interview with the Oregonian, Karm said that her boyfriend did not know Padgett and that she herself had only met the shooter on a few occasions in the school hallways. She said Hoffman was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'.

After the shooter's name was released, Karm sent off a series of tweets expressing her anger at the fellow classmate who killed her boyfriend.

'Suffer in hell Jarrod Padgett [sic],' she wrote in one tweet.

Hoffman also had a Twitter, and his last tweet was sent out at 7:20am - just minutes before the shooting - writing: 'let's just end school with a bunch of stressful test [sic] ... yay..'

Word of Hoffman's death quickly spread to social media, which is how his 20-year-old cousin Alex Soriano found out about the shooting.

Soriano was at home at the time, and kept seeing his cousin's name pop up on his feeds.

'I was confused and I just blurred it out. My mom heard me. She came over and saw it. And then she dropped to her knees,' he told the Oregonian.

Soriano says the family is devastated and still in shock over the death. The family has not released a statement yet.

A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday night in Hoffman's honor. A fund has since been set up to help the family pay for his funeral. As of late Wednesday, the GoFundMe page had raised over $6,000 of its $8,000 goal.

Waiting for word: Family and friends of Reynolds High School students wait for word of their safety after a shooting at the school

Swift response: A teen gunman armed with a rifle shot and killed a student Tuesday and injured a teacher at a high school in a quiet Columbia River town in Oregon then likely killed himself, authorities said.

Armed response: A police officer stands guard as students arrived by bus at a shopping center parking lot nearby to Reynolds High School on Tuesday