University of Texas Tower Shooting: 60 years later

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. [Fox 7 Austin]

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On Aug. 1, 1966, a 25-year-old former Marine and engineering student named Charles Whitman carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history at the University of Texas at Austin, killing 16 people and wounding 31 others over the course of an hour and a half. The violence claimed additional casualties beyond that fateful day, with one victim succumbing to complications from his injuries 35 years later in 2001, bringing the death toll to 17. This milestone marks the 60th anniversary of the tragedy, which left deep scars on the campus and the community.

Whitman's rampage began before he ever reached the tower. He had already killed his wife and mother that morning, then drove to campus intent on further violence. Arriving around 11:30 a.m., he attempted to conceal his identity by dressing in work clothes resembling those of maintenance staff. He carried a footlocker loaded with multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to the observation deck of the University of Texas Tower.

Upon reaching the 28th floor, Whitman shot and killed a university receptionist, then descended to a stairwell where he encountered a family of tourists. Using a modified shotgun, he gunned down four family members, killing two and severely wounding the other two. About 18 minutes after arriving on campus, Whitman took to the observation deck and began firing at people below, continuing for 96 minutes while students and visitors scattered across the campus, ducking behind vehicles and fleeing for safety.

Austin Police Department officers Ray Martinez and Houston McCoy, along with assistance from other law enforcement and at least one civilian, made their way to the observation deck and fatally shot Whitman, ending the assault. In the aftermath, authorities discovered Whitman had a malignant brain tumor, though investigators could not establish whether the growth contributed to his violent actions.

An autopsy revealed Whitman had a brain tumor, raising questions about potential biological factors in his actions, though medical examiners stated they could not definitively link the discovery to his behavior. Decades later, in 2016, the university installed a memorial in the Tower Garden to honor the victims of the shooting.

Prominent figures who witnessed the shooting on campus that day reflected on the tragedy as the anniversary arrived. Congressman Lloyd Doggett and former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, both present during the incident, spoke about their experiences and memories of the tragedy.