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The Resource A sniper in the Tower : the Charles Whitman murders, Gary M. Lavergne

A sniper in the Tower : the Charles Whitman murders, Gary M. Lavergne

Creator
Contributor
Summary
  • This volume provides an analysis of American Charles Whitman (1941-1966), an American engineering student and former U.S. Marine, who killed seventeen people and wounded thirty-two others in a mass shooting rampage in and around the Tower of the University of Texas in Austin on the afternoon of August 1, 1966. Prior to the shootings at the University of Texas, Whitman had murdered his wife and mother the night before. The author attempts to answer the question "why?" with this historical analysis of the event. Using primary sources and photographs, the author details the significant events in Whitman's life that led to the massacre. The author details the life of Whitman, his relationships with his friends, mother and father, brothers and wife. He writes about the victims and where and what they were doing when they were gunned down. The author describes how civilians used their own guns to shoot back at Whitman and how an air attack from a helicopter was unsuccessful in gunning down the killer, but how Austin police were finally able to end the massacre by sneaking up to the Tower and catching Whitman off guard
  • On August 1, 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman ascended the University of Texas Tower and committed what was then the largest simultaneous mass murder in American history. He gunned down forty-five people inside and around the Tower before he was killed by two Austin police officers. During the previous evening he had killed his wife and mother, bringing the total to sixteen people dead and at least thirty-one wounded. The murders spawned debates over issues which still plague America today: domestic violence, child abuse, drug abuse, military indoctrination, gun control, the insanity defense, and the delicate balance between civil liberties and public safety
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
xiii, 324 p.
Contents
  • Prologue: Weathered metal plaques
  • Two very different upbringings
  • The soldier and the teacher
  • Austin is different
  • The nice facade
  • Oozing with hostility
  • After much thought
  • The neat little house and the swank apartment
  • The glass-paneled door
  • Strange noises
  • Houston
  • Ramiro
  • The general
  • Independent actions
  • The white headband
  • To whom it may concern
  • APD
  • Why did he do it?
  • Who killed Charles Whitman?
  • Epilogue: The writer from Austin
Isbn
9781574410211
Instance
Label
A sniper in the Tower : the Charles Whitman murders
Title
A sniper in the Tower
Title remainder
the Charles Whitman murders
Statement of responsibility
Gary M. Lavergne
Creator
Contributor
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
  • This volume provides an analysis of American Charles Whitman (1941-1966), an American engineering student and former U.S. Marine, who killed seventeen people and wounded thirty-two others in a mass shooting rampage in and around the Tower of the University of Texas in Austin on the afternoon of August 1, 1966. Prior to the shootings at the University of Texas, Whitman had murdered his wife and mother the night before. The author attempts to answer the question "why?" with this historical analysis of the event. Using primary sources and photographs, the author details the significant events in Whitman's life that led to the massacre. The author details the life of Whitman, his relationships with his friends, mother and father, brothers and wife. He writes about the victims and where and what they were doing when they were gunned down. The author describes how civilians used their own guns to shoot back at Whitman and how an air attack from a helicopter was unsuccessful in gunning down the killer, but how Austin police were finally able to end the massacre by sneaking up to the Tower and catching Whitman off guard
  • On August 1, 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman ascended the University of Texas Tower and committed what was then the largest simultaneous mass murder in American history. He gunned down forty-five people inside and around the Tower before he was killed by two Austin police officers. During the previous evening he had killed his wife and mother, bringing the total to sixteen people dead and at least thirty-one wounded. The murders spawned debates over issues which still plague America today: domestic violence, child abuse, drug abuse, military indoctrination, gun control, the insanity defense, and the delicate balance between civil liberties and public safety
Biography type
individual biography
Cataloging source
DLC
Dewey number
364.15/0976431
Government publication
government publication of a state province territory dependency etc
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
Index
index present
LC call number
HV6248.W477
LC item number
L39 1997
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
Label
A sniper in the Tower : the Charles Whitman murders, Gary M. Lavergne
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Contents
Prologue: Weathered metal plaques -- Two very different upbringings -- The soldier and the teacher -- Austin is different -- The nice facade -- Oozing with hostility -- After much thought -- The neat little house and the swank apartment -- The glass-paneled door -- Strange noises -- Houston -- Ramiro -- The general -- Independent actions -- The white headband -- To whom it may concern -- APD -- Why did he do it? -- Who killed Charles Whitman? -- Epilogue: The writer from Austin
Control code
36024049
Dimensions
23 cm.
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
xiii, 324 p.
Isbn
9781574410211
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
96050411 //r97
Note
Library's copy 3 (SW Writers): Purchased, 1997. Paperbound.
Other physical details
ill., maps
Label
A sniper in the Tower : the Charles Whitman murders, Gary M. Lavergne
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Contents
Prologue: Weathered metal plaques -- Two very different upbringings -- The soldier and the teacher -- Austin is different -- The nice facade -- Oozing with hostility -- After much thought -- The neat little house and the swank apartment -- The glass-paneled door -- Strange noises -- Houston -- Ramiro -- The general -- Independent actions -- The white headband -- To whom it may concern -- APD -- Why did he do it? -- Who killed Charles Whitman? -- Epilogue: The writer from Austin
Control code
36024049
Dimensions
23 cm.
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
xiii, 324 p.
Isbn
9781574410211
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
96050411 //r97
Note
Library's copy 3 (SW Writers): Purchased, 1997. Paperbound.
Other physical details
ill., maps

Subject

Library Locations

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      29.888873 -97.943078

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