The Cleveland shooting took place on January 17, 1989. This shooting was also known as Stockton School Yard Shooting. The shooting was in Stockton, California. The shooter was Patrick Purdy, he had a criminal past. He killed 5 school children and wounded 29 other students. The victims were mainly Asian refugees.
Patrick used to be welder, and when he was two his parents got divorced because her husband threatened to kill her. Patrick went to Cleveland Elementary school.
His mom physically abused him and child protective services were called often. Patrick often hit his mom when he got older. He lived in the streets for a while and then moved in with his dad. In high school he was addicted to drugs and was an alcoholic. His father later died. Patrick had a long criminal record as a child for various reasons. I think the reason he had this history is because his parents weren’t always there for him. He had a handgun that he purchased in 1988. At college he often complained that the Asian population was too high.
On January 17, 1989, Patrick set his car on fire behind the school. He went to the school playground and started shooting with his type 56 assault rifle. He hid behind a portable building. He fired 106 shots in three minutes killing 5 students and wounding 29 students and 1 teacher. The people Patrick shot were reported to be Cambodian or Vietnamese. Patrick then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a pistol.
Although Patrick Purdy had no mental problems, he did have a previous criminal and violent record. Patrick is serving a lifetime in Jail and the motive was not completely decided. They know he didn’t like Asian people though. This shooting was tragic and the dangers of guns were taken more seriously after this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_School_massacre
http://www.ibtimes.com/school-shootings-us-1700s-2012-938644
Comments
Good summary but no personal thoughts.