School shooting
The term school massacre refers to an incident of mass murder occurring at a school, normally perpetrated by students, although also in some cases by outsiders. School massacres in recent history have included:
- the Erfurt massacre (Germany) in 2002
- the Columbine High School massacre (Colorado, United States) in 1999
- the Jonesboro massacre (Arkansas, United States) in 1998
- the Sanaa massacre (Yemen) in 1997
- the Dunblane massacre (Scotland) in 1996
- the École Polytechnique Massacre (Canada) in 1989
- the Maalot Massacre (Israel) in 1974, by DFLP gunmen (see [1])
Primary school and other school killings
- January 1979, San Diego, California: 17-year old Brenda Spencer took a rifle that she got for Christmas and headed to Cleveland Elementary School, which was across the street from her house. She fired rampantly, aiming to kill, as evidenced by the the fact that the bullet wound in one injured child was mere inches from his heart. Eight children and a police officer were injured, and two men protecting the children died. When the six-hour incident ended, she shrugged, "I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day." She also noted that "There was no reason for it, and it was just a lot of fun"; "It was just like shooting ducks in a pond"; and "[The children] looked like a herd of cows standing around, it was really easy pickings." Soon after, the Dublin punk band Boomtown Rats writes the song I Don't Like Mondays, which is based on the incident.
- The Taber killing (Alberta, Canada) in 1999.
- February 29, 2000, Mount Morris Township, Michigan: A 6-year old boy shoots 6-year old Kayla Rowland in the neck; Rowland dies, yet the 6-year old's father is charged for the crime
- June 8, 2001, Osaka, Japan: 37-year old Mamoru Takuma, who was armed with a kitchen knife, enters an Osaka elementary school ans stabs children, killing eight children and wounding 18 children and 3 teachers
Secondary School killings in the United States
- March 2, 1987, Missouri, 12-year old honor student Nathan Ferris brought a gun to school. He killed a student who teased him before he killed himself.
- May 1, 1992, Olivehurst, California: a 20-year old gunman killed four people and wounded 10.
- January 18, 1993, Grayson, Kentucky: a 17-year old shot his English teacher in the head and a school janitor in the abdomen.
- November 15, 1995, Giles County, Tennessee: 17-year old Jamie Rousse walks into the Richland school dressed in black and with a Remington viper. He shoots two teachers in the head, killing one of them. He then attempted to kill the football coach, but a female student in the way was hit in the neck instead.
- February 2, 1996, Moses Lake, Washington: 14-year-old student Barry Loukaitis, dressed up as a wild west gunslinger, turned a hunting rifle on his algebra class at Frontier Junior High School, killing two classmates and a teacher.
- February 2, 1996, Atlanta, Georgia: 12-year old David Dubose kills a teacher in the hallway of his school.
- January 27, 1997, 13-year old Tronneal Magnum shoots and kills another student in front of his school
- February 19, 1997, Bethel, Alaska: 16-year-old student Evan Ramsey opened fire with a shotgun at Bethel High School, killing the school principal and one student, and wounding two others.
- October 1, 1997, Pearl, Mississippi: 16-year old Luke Woodham stabbed his mother, then took a rifle to Pearl High School where he opened fire, shooting nine students. His ex-girlfriend and another student died. Six other boys were later accused of conspiracy.
- December 1, 1997, Paducah, Kentucky: 14-year Michael Carneal carried five fully-loaded guns to Heath High School, shot at a prayer group, killing three and wounding another five teenagers. Five of the victims were shot in the head, and three were hit in the upper torso. One of the wounded was paralyzed for life.
- March 24, 1998, Jonesboro, Arkansas: 11 and 13-year old cousins ambushed classmates during a false fire alarm at Westside Middle School. Four girls and a teacher were killed and 10 people were wounded.
- April 24, 1998, Edinboro, Pennsylvania: 14-year old Andrew J. Wurst went to the school graduation dance where he shot and killed a popular science teacher. He subsequently opened fire on more students, wounding another teacher and two classmates before he ran out of ammunition.
- May 19, 1998, Fayetteville, Tennessee: three days before graduation, an 18-year old honor student allegedly shot and killed a classmate who was dating his ex-girlfriend.
- May 21, 1998, Springfield, Oregon: two boys were killed and more than 20 other students were injured when 15-year old Kip Kinkel allegedly opened fire in the school cafeteria of Thurston High School. Two bodies, believed to be the youth's parents, were later discovered at the boy's home.
- October 20, 1999, Houston, Texas: A 14-year old boy stabs a 13-year old boy named Samuel Avila in the head with a screwdriver in a fight at Deady Middle School. Samuel Avila dies.
- November 20, 1999, Deming, New Mexico: A boy shot 13-year old Aralecy Tena in the back of the head in the lobby of Deming Middle School. Tena dies after being taken off of life support
- March 5, 2001, Santee, California: Charles Andrew Williams opens fire in a boy's bathroom at Santana High School, killing two students and wounding thirteen.