1966day.year
Charles Whitman kills 15 people at the University of Texas at Austin before being killed by the police.
On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman carried out a mass shooting at the University of Texas at Austin, killing 15 before being stopped by police.
On the morning of August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman, a former Marine, ascended the University of Texas tower with firearms.
From the observation deck, he opened fire on people on campus and nearby streets, killing 15 and wounding dozens.
The massacre was one of the first mass shootings in U.S. history to unfold on live media.
Later that day, Austin police officer Houston McCoy and an armed civilian confronted Whitman and ended his killing spree.
The tragedy led to nationwide conversations about mental health, firearm control, and campus security.
A memorial on the tower grounds honors the victims and marks a pivotal moment in modern policing tactics.
1966
Charles Whitman
kills 15 people
University of Texas at Austin