Texas Tower Shooting: 1966 Massacre Foreshadows US Gun Violence
On August 1, 1966, a gunman opened fire from the University of Texas Tower in Austin, killing 16 people before being shot by police. The incident, broadcast live on radio and TV, saw civilians firing back at the tower. Local station KTBC called it one of the greatest massacres. The event is seen as a precursor to similar mass shootings in the US, highlighting the nation's complex relationship with firearms.
Key facts
- Date: August 1, 1966
- Location: University of Texas Tower, Austin, Texas
- Casualties: 16 people killed
- Perpetrator: killed by police on the tower's observation deck
- Duration: about 1.5 hours
- Broadcast: radio and TV warnings interrupted programs
- Civilian response: some residents fired at the tower
- KTBC classified it as one of the greatest massacres
Entities
Institutions
- University of Texas
- KTBC
Locations
- Austin
- Texas
- United States