CHAKIARA TUCKER PR RESEARCH & STRATEGIES, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MARCH 27, University of Texas in Austin

THE EVENT: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CLOCK TOWER SHOOTING AUGUST 1, 1996 AT 11 A.M. EX-MARINE, CHARLES WHITMAN POSED AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER AND ENTERED THE 307 FT. CLOCK TOWER ON THE CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN. HE THEN RETREATED TO THE 27 TH FLOOR, WHERE HE SYSTEMATICALLY SHOT AND KILLED 10 PEOPLE, LEAVING 32 INJURED. WHITMAN WAS KILLED, ON THE 27 TH FLOOR BY AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, RAMIRO MARTINEZ, HOUSTON MCCOY AND JERRY DAY. MAGNUM SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN & RIFLES

BACKSTORY AT 11 A.M. WHITMAN POSED AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER AND ENTERED THE 307 FT. TOWER. HE THEN RETREATED TO THE 27 TH FLOOR, WHERE HE SYSTEMATICALLY SHOT AND KILLED 10 PEOPLE, LEAVING 32 INJURED. BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING, WHITMAN MURDERED BOTH HIS MOTHER AND WIFE. WHITMAN HAD VISITED SEVERAL UNIVERSITY DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBED VARIOUS MEDICATIONS, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS ARE UNKNOWN. A FLORIDA NATIVE, WHITMAN HAD AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF WEAPONRY. “I imagine it appears that I brutally killed both of my loved ones. I was only trying to do a quick thorough job...If my life insurance policy is valid please pay off my debts...donate the rest anonymously to a mental health foundation. Maybe research can prevent further tragedies of this type.”

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS REFUSED TO RELEASE THE MEDICAL RECORDS AND HISTORY OF WHITMAN CITING LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES. THE ONLY RECORD RELEASED WAS THAT OF DR. HEATLY, ONCE IT HAD BECOME KNOWN TO THE PRESS THAT WHITMAN HAD SEEN A PSHYCHIATRIST. AS REQUESTED BY WHITMAN, AN AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED BY DR. COLEMAN DE CHENAR. A BRAIN TUMOR WAS FOUND AND REPORTED AS AN ASTROCYTOMA BRAIN TUMOR. /Prescription_list_from_Jewell.jpg

THE STORY CONTINUES

THE STORY CONTINU ACCESS TO THE TOWER IS NOW TIGHTLY CONTROLLED THROUGH GUIDED TOUR. STICT SECURITY MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE. PATRONS ARE SUBJECTED TO METAL DETECTORS.

THE STORY CONTINUES "I talked with a Doctor once for about two hours and tried to convey to him my fears that I felt come [sic, probably meant "some"] overwhelming violent impulses. After one visit, I never saw the Doctor again, and since then have been fighting my mental turmoil alone, and seemingly to no avail."

PR LESSONS LEARNED

LESSONS FOR UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PROS ACCESS TO THE TOWER IS NOW TIGHTLY CONTROLLED THROUGH GUIDED TOUR. STICT SECURITY MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE. PATRONS ARE SUBJECTED TO METAL DETECTORS. CONS WAITING 40 YEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EVENT FRAMES THE UNIVERSITY IN A PEJORATIVE MANNER. UT APPEARS INSENSITIVE.