Oregon Public Broadcasting

The man who shot nine people in downtown Portland last month, then turned the gun on himself, may have picked his targets because they were ‘preppies,’ according to police. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Police think Erik Ayala was suffering from schizophrenia when he went on his shooting spree.

They didn’t find any alcohol or drugs in his system, but they did find the anxiety medication benzodiazepine.

They haven’t been able to find the doctor who prescribed it, however.

Detective Ken Whattam says Ayala also seems to have held a serious grudge.

Ken Whattam: “Based on Aayals early dislike for preps in high school, and his more recent blogs concerning dislike for preps, fake people and pop tweens. We believe Ayala chose the downtown area…in an attempt to locate a similar group of people.”

Ayala was accused of threatening to take a gun to school six years ago. But officials determined no threat had been made.

He was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the time and received counseling for suicidal tendencies.

But police says neither friends nor family knew of his intentions last month.