It was the bleak day of September 6, 1949. Howard Unruh had become convinced that his neighbors have been conspiring against him. He wore the souvenir from the World War II in which he had taken part and had been released by the military with full honors. Loaded his gun stuffed extra rounds and left his home. As he came out of his house with gun neighbors recognized him and shouted “crazy man” ran for shelters as he started firing.

The first in the line was a cobbler. Then he entered a barber shop where he killed the barber and a little boy. Howard Unruh’s next target was a tailor but as he was unavailable he killed his wife instead. Another man was randomly shot at, who died of the wounds. Meanwhile someone from neighborhood shot at him from a pistol but the bullet missed him and just wounded him. He went on to kill an insurance sales man.

Next, he went into a neighbor’s house who had previously complained about his habits, killed the couple in the house and an old lady. In all some 13 people were killed. Howard Unruh was found guilty and was caught from his apartment but he was sent to a psychiatric facility for schizophrenic behavior. Howard Unruh also had gay relationships and thought that people were ridiculing him for his sexual orientation.

Howard Unruh spent rest of his life in the hospital. He died on Monday. He was 88 and had long been ill.

Howard Unruh