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US School Shootings Data, 1979-2011

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US School Shootings Data, 1979-2011 THE BULLY SOCIETY: U.S. School Shootings data, 1979-2011* Klein, Jessie, (2012) The Bully Society: school shootings and the crisis of bullying in America’s schools, New York, NY: NYU Press, http//:www.nyu-press.org/bullysociety/dataonschoolshootings.pdf. Please let us work together to build safer and more peaceful schools. - Jessie Klein Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded January 29, Brenda Ann Killed: 1 Violence against girls/women: Brenda says she asked her 1979 Spencer, 16 principal, 1 Brenda claimed her violence grew father for a radio for her school out of an abusive home life in birthday, and he bought her a San Diego, custodian which her father beat and sexually gun. “I felt like he wanted California abused her.1 me to kill myself,” she said.3 Wounded: 8 Grover students, 1 Anti-school: Said that when she To explain the shooting, Cleveland police officer told school counselors about her Brenda said, “I don’t like Elementary home life, they ignored her.2 Mondays.” (Her words School became the popular lyrics in a song by the Irish Rock #1 Group Boomtown Rats, “I Don’t Like Mondays.”)4 October 6, 1979 Mark Houston, Killed: 2 Other: Police speculated that 19 students Mark was angry when the police Columbia, sent everyone home from a South Carolina Wounded: 5 fraternity party he had been at students previously; Mark was mad that he University of hadn’t received his $2.00 back; South Carolina the defense argued that he had brain damage from an early #2 childhood car accident.5 December 1979 Roger Cutsinger, Killed: 1 Dating/domestic violence: Roger 21 male student fatally shot his roommate and Seattle, lover, Larry Duerkson, hoping to Washington Wounded: 0 collect $500,000 from Larry’s life insurance policy. Roger was the 6 University of beneficiary. Washington #3 April 17, 1981 Leo Kelly, 22 Killed: 1 Anti-school: Leo had been student, 1 bus dismissed from the University of Ann Arbor, driver Michigan before; he was about to Michigan be dismissed again because of his Wounded: 0 failing grades.7 University of Michigan #4 1 Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded March 19, 1982 Patrick Lizotte, Killed: 1 Masculinity: Patrick was One teacher “cautioned her 17 teacher “bullied, taunted, teased, picked students that if they continue Las Vegas, on and physically and verbally ‘to ride’ Patrick he Nevada Wounded: 2 tormented by his classmates, and eventually was not going to students even worse, some of his take it anymore.”9 8 Valley High teachers.” School #5 April 5, 1982 Kelvin Love, 25 Killed: 1 Anti-school: Witnesses said that teacher; 1 Kelvin argued with his teacher Hot Springs, student about homework before he started Arkansas shooting.10 Wounded: 0 Garland County Community College #6 April 7, 1982 Jason Rocha, 14 Killed: 1 Motive unknown: Jason and Referred to as having: “All- male student another youth were reportedly American good looks.”12 Littleton, “shooting prairie dogs” during Colorado Wounded: 0 recess before he turned the gun on While in a juvenile detention his 13-year-old classmate.11 center for violent offenders, Deer Creek CATS, one of the experts Middle School referred to Jason as one of the “Middle class murderers:” “These are kids who feel entitled to be treated as the center of the universe.” Then they snap “when they realize #7 everything’s not going their way.”13 January 20, David F. Lawler, Killed: 1 Masculinity (Gay-bashing): "No one will ever call my 1983 14 male student, David attacked a student who brother a pussy again," he 1 suicide called his older brother “a pussy.” said.15 Saint Louis, He brought a murder-suicide note Missouri Wounded: 1 threatening to kill anyone David received the gun as a student speaking badly about his younger Christmas present.16 14 Parkway South brother. Middle School SUICIDE #8 2 Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded December 16, Michael Graham, Killed: 0 Anti-school /Masculinity: Michael told people he was 1983 15 Michael shot and wounded his going to shoot his teacher for Wounded: 1 German teacher, Sharon Mundt, embarrassing him: “Half the Rockford, teacher who had embarrassed him by sophomore class knew about Illinois disciplining him for misbehavior it,” said a student. “Everyone 17 18 in front of his class. thought it was a joke.” Boylan Central Catholic High School #9 December 17, Su Yong Kim, 26 Killed: 2 Violence against girls/women: 1983 female Su had been stalking and students harassing Young Hee Suh, whom Ithaca, New he killed; he was repeatedly York rejected by her; she asked police to remove him on one occasion Cornell when he came to her dorm. The University other girl Su killed, Erin Nieswand, had taken Su’s calls #10 and told him that Young wouldn’t talk with him.19 February 24, Tyrone Mitchell, Killed: 1 Status:/Masculinity: Tyrone was 1984 28 female declared “unemployable” by student, 1 county officials because of his Los Angeles, suicide “anxiety-neurosis” disorder.20 California Wounded: 9 Other: Tyrone had lost family 49th Street students, 2 members in the Jonestown Elementary adults massacre.21 School SUICIDE #11 January 21, James Alan Killed: 1 Status: James was described as “a 1985 Kearbey, 14 principal loner.”22 Goddard, Wounded: 2 Masculinity: He said he was Kansas teachers, 1 bullied and beaten by students for student years.23 Goddard Middle School #12 3 Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded November 26, Heather Smith, Killed: 2 Status: Heather was an honors 1985 14 male student; and a member of the students, 1 gymnastics team.24 Spanaway, suicide Washington Dating/domestic violence: Wounded: 0 Heather Smith fatally shot her ex- Spanaway boyfriend Gordon Pickett and his Junior High SUICIDE friend Chris Ricco as they were School leaving wrestling practice at Spanaway Junior High School. #13 Heather committed suicide at the school several hours later during a standoff with the sheriff's deputy.25 December 10, Floyd Warmsley, Killed: 1 Anti-school: Floyd was Angry about being 1985 13 school suspended after he refused to take suspended, Floyd warned his custodian off his hat.26 friends that he would “do Portland, something he would regret.” Connecticut 27 Portland Junior Wounded: 1 High School principal, school #14 secretary March 6, 1986 Unnamed male Killed: 0 Anti-school: The boy argued with The boy told police that he perpetrator, 14 his math teacher and had just was angry at the teacher for Dolton, Ilinois Wounded: returned from a six day recommending the Math suspension. 28 suspension.29 Thornridge Teacher High School He used his father’s 457 Magnum.30 #15 May 16, 1986 David Young, 42 Killed: wife, Status: Town residents The Youngs together held Doris Young, 47 1 suicide remembered David as a "Wyatt 154 children hostage with an Cokeville, Earp" type who “loved guns and improvised bomb. Wyoming Wounded: wore a six-shooter on his hip.” 79 children Cokeville Elementary SUICIDE School Masculinity (Workplace retaliation): David was Marshall of a ranching town and was fired for being overzealous; then he 31 returned for vengeance. Dating/domestic violence / Violence against girls/women: #16 David killed his wife before shooting himself. 4 Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded September 8, Cindy Marie Killed: 1 Girl-bashing: Cindy said she 1986 Piccot, 21 female attacked the other female student, student, 1 Shamette Allen, because the year New Orleans, suicide before, Shamette had poured Louisiana, gasoline over Cindy on New Wounded: 0 Year's Day. Shamette had set Coastal Cindy on fire, but was not Training SUICIDE prosecuted due to insufficient Institute evidence.32 #17 September 18, Leonard Rubio, Killed: 15- Dating/domestic violence One student said: “They 1986 18 year old Violence against girls/women: started fighting because she girlfriend Leonard Rubio shot his girlfriend, wanted to break up and see Benicia, 15-year-old Heather Dunn, after other people.”34 California Wounded: 0 she told him that she wanted to break up with him.33 Benicia High School #18 October 8, 1986 Kenneth Lee Killed: 1 Status: Kenneth was the older Jackson, 19 male student brother of a boy who was arguing Dallas, Texas with 16-year-old victim Cody Wounded: 0 Cobbins over a bus seat. 35 South Oak Cliff High School #19 December 4, Kristofer Hans, Killed: 1 Anti-school: Kristofer was failing Kristofer told other students 1986 14 substitute French, and threatened to kill his he planned to kill the French teacher teacher; he killed the substitute teacher because he received 36 37 Lewiston, instead. a failing grade from her. Montana Wounded: 1 vice Fergus High principal, 2 School students #20 March 2, 1987 Nathan Ferris, 12 Killed: 1 Status: Nathan was an honor Nathan told his friend not to male student, student; he was called an go to school that day; he told Dekalb, 1 suicide “overweight loner” and a others about his plan, but no 40 Missouri “walking dictionary;” he was one believed him. Wounded: 0 bullied from a young age for being 38 Middle School smart. SUICIDE #21 Masculinity: Nathan said he was “tired of being teased;” he killed the boy who made fun of him right after he bullied him that day in class.39 5 Date/Place/ Name/Age Killed / Motives/Contributory Factors Warnings / Notes School Wounded February 11, Jason Edward Killed: Anti-school: Jason McCoy had 1988 Harless, 15 Principal been suspended from school for Jason McCoy, 15 cursing at a teacher, and was Pinellas Park, Wounded: 1 confronted by school officials Florida assistant when he showed up on campus.41 principal, 1 Pinellas Park assistant High School physical education #22 teacher; Harless was wounded by the police May 20, 1988 Laurie Dann, 30 Killed: 1 Status: Laurie was described as Before she began shooting, male student, “shy and withdrawn.”42 Laurie took a family hostage Winnetka, 1 suicide and tried to poison several Illinois Violence against girls/ women/ people with spiked juice Wounded: 2 Dating/domestic violence: Laurie boxes.
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