A Sniper in the Tower: The Charles Whitman Murders

Gary M. Lavergne

Jan 1997 · University of North Texas Press

About this ebook

This volume provides an analysis of American Charles Whitman (1941-1966), an American engineering student and former U.S. Marine, who killed seventeen people and wounded thirty-two others in a mass shooting rampage in and around the Tower of the University of Texas in Austin on the afternoon of August 1, 1966. Prior to the shootings at the University of Texas, Whitman had murdered his wife and mother the night before. The author attempts to answer the question "why?" with this historical analysis of the event. Using primary sources and photographs, the author details the significant events in Whitman's life that led to the massacre. The author details the life of Whitman, his relationships with his friends, mother and father, brothers and wife. He writes about the victims and where and what they were doing when they were gunned down. The author describes how civilians used their own guns to shoot back at Whitman and how an air attack from a helicopter was unsuccessful in gunning down the killer, but how Austin police were finally able to end the massacre by sneaking up to the Tower and catching Whitman off guard.

Ratings and reviews

It has background information I never knew about Charles Whitman and one of the most horrific crimes in America.

About the author

Gary M. Lavergne earned degrees from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and McNeese University. He divides his time between Cedar Park and Austin, Texas, where he is a Senior Assessment Associate for a major educational testing company. His articles have appeared in regional and national historical journals.