Race & news reporting

This week a young man shot & wounded 2 students & 2 teachers before killing himself at his High School. The article talks about previous issues with the student, how the student could have entered the school, (the school has metal detectors and surveillance video) and also about what occurred inside the school that morning and who was wounded. In addition the article, his race is described, which I found seemingly out of place, they say he was a white student in a predominately black school, but they don't think race was involved, I don't see the relevance of even mentioning that, if race isnt an issue it shouldnt have been mentioned. I see the relevance of mentioning that he stood out because of his black trench coat he wore and the chains around his neck, but I dont think race should have been mentioned.