“In order to deny the shooters any fame, names will not be used.”
1. Route 91 Harvest Music Festival- 58 killed* (LasVegas, NV) This will go down as the deadliest mass shooting in American history. More than 500 people were injured in the attack. As of now, it appears that the shooter was a resident of Nevada. The perpetrator had at least 10 weapons on him and killed himself as police were forcing their way into his room. His motives remain unknown.
Unfortunately, the Harvest Music Festival massacre joins a long list of deadly American mass-shootings. Were going to highlight the next six deadliest attacks. In order to deny the shooters any fame, names will not be used.
The most obvious theme among most of the shooters on this list is not terrorism, religion, or political views. Instead, most of the shooters appear to have been mentally disturbed.
2. Pulse Nightclub- 49 killed (Orlando, Fl)
June 12, 2016: A 29-year-old security guard entered the popular LGBT Pulse Nightclub and began shooting patrons. 49 people were killed and a hostage situation ensued. The shooter was killed by police during the hostage stand-off. The perpetrator proclaimed allegiance to the Islamic State. However, the CIA has been unable to find any communication between the Islamic State and the shooter.
3. Virginia Tech 32 killed (Blacksburg, Va)
April 16, 2007: A 23-year-old student of Virginia Tech shot two people in a dorm room in the morning. Shockingly, school administrators decided not to lock down campus even thought the shooter had not been caught. Two hours later, the shooter entered a class hall and various classrooms, shooting students and staff. After rampaging for about 12 minutes, the shooter ended his own life. The perpetrator suffered from mental illness.
4. Sandy Hook 27 killed (Newtown, CT.)
December 14, 2012: A 20 year shooter entered an elementary school where he shot 20 students and several staff members before taking his own life. Subsequent investigations revealed that the perpetrator suffered from mental illnesses. His mother had taught him to shoot at ranges. It appears that she thought such training would be therapeutic.
5. Luby’s Cafeteria 23 killed (Killeen, TX.)
October 16, 1991: The shooter drove his pickup truck through the wall of a Luby’s Cafeteria. After existing the vehicle, he shot and killed 23 people. 27 were injured. He then committed suicide. Most of the victims were women, and people who knew the perpetrator claimed that he hated women and people of color.
6. McDonald’s Shooting 21 killed (San Ysidro, Ca.)
July 18, 1984: The shooter entered a McDonald’s and shot 21 adults and children. He used a long-barrel Uzi, a shotgun, and a handgun. The rampage went on for hours before the shooter was brought down by a police sharpshooter. The perpetrator appears to have been mentally disturbed. He believed that Soviet influence was everywhere, and that government regulations caused the failure of his business.
7. University of Texas Shooting 18 killed (Austin, Tx.)
August 1, 1966: The perpetrator shot and killed 16 people from a campus tower. At least 30 people were wounded. Two police officers were able to enter the tower and kill the perpetrator. Police later find out that the shooter had killed his wife and mother the day before. The perpetrator suffered from violent tendencies, and experts later uncover a brain tumor.
*As of 02 October 2017. Total number of deaths may increase due to injuries.
