1966 University of Texas Tower Shooting

Charles Joseph Whitman was a former U.S. Marine who carried out one of the first mass shootings in modern American history. On August 1, 1966, he climbed to the observation deck of the University of Texas Tower in Austin and opened fire, killing 14 people and wounding 31 others before being shot and killed by police.

Whitman exhibited signs of severe mental distress in the months leading up to the shooting. He suffered from severe headaches and mood swings. He sought help from campus doctors and a psychiatrist, complaining of violent thoughts. He wrote in his journal about his inner turmoil and concern over his behavior. On the night before the attack (July 31, 1966), he murdered his mother, Margaret Whitman, and later stabbed his wife, Kathleen, to death in their apartment.

Whitman packed a footlocker with firearms, ammunition, and food supplies. He had a 6mm Remington bolt-action rifle, a sawed off 12-gauge shotgun, an M1 Carbine, a .357 Magnum revolver, a 9mm Luger pistol and a .25-caliber pistol. He dressed in blue coveralls to appear as a maintenance worker and proceeded to the University of Texas Tower.

11:30 AM: Whitman entered the Tower, killing a receptionist and two visitors on the 27th floor.

11:48 AM: From the 28th-floor observation deck, he began shooting at pedestrians and students below.

He indiscriminately targeted people across campus, killing 14 and injuring 31. The shooting lasted approximately 96 minutes, causing widespread panic.

Austin police officers Houston McCoy and Ramiro Martinez, along with a civilian named Allen Crum, ascended the Tower and confronted Whitman.

1:24 PM: Officers McCoy and Martinez shot and killed Whitman, ending the rampage.

Autopsy Findings: Whitman had a brain tumor, which some experts speculate may have contributed to his violent actions.

Victims

Margaret Whitman – Age 43, Charles Whitman's mother. Murdered in her apartment before the tower shooting.

Kathleen Whitman – Age 23, Charles Whitman's wife. Murdered in her sleep at their home, also before the tower attack.

Claire Wilson James – Age 18 (Pregnant), Shot in the abdomen while walking across the South Mall with her boyfriend. She survived, but her unborn baby did not. He Died as a result of the shooting.

Thomas Frederick Eckman – Age 18, Claire Wilson’s boyfriend. Shot in the chest while trying to help Claire. Died instantly.

Mark Gabour – Age 16, Killed while delivering papers with his aunt.

Margaret Gabour – Age 47, Mark’s aunt. Killed alongside her nephew.

Robert Boyer – Age 33, Doctoral student, shot while riding his bicycle past the tower.

Thomas Ashton – Age 22, Electrician’s apprentice, killed while assisting a construction crew.

Harry Walchuk – Age 38, Researcher at the University, shot in the stomach and died later from wounds.

Billy Speed – Age 23, Austin police officer, shot while seeking cover behind a concrete barricade.

Thomas Karr – Age 24, Shot in the spine while trying to help others, later died from the wound.

David Gunby – Age 23, Shot while entering the tower with friends. Survived the initial shooting, but died in 2001 from complications linked to the injury, and his death was ruled a homicide.

Roy Dell Schmidt – Age 29, Shot and killed while walking through the area.

Paul Sonntag – Age 18, Shot while trying to help a wounded companion.

Royce Martinez – Age 19, Killed by Whitman’s sniper fire while trying to pull another victim to safety.

31 more people were wounded, some names were not widely released, especially in the 1960s press coverage. Here are some of the names…

Claire Wilson James – Shot in the abdomen. Pregnant at the time, survived, but lost her unborn child.

Alec Hernandez – Shot in the legs while delivering newspapers.

Brenda Wheeler – 17, shot while crossing campus.

Delores Ortega – Wounded while fleeing the scene.

Lana Phillips – Injured, survived.

Billy Snowden – Shot in the shoulder, survived.

David Mattson – Shot, but survived.