Charlie shot Billy Speed through a six-inch space between two balusters, which were part of a rail that surrounded the statue. Officers Jerry Culp and Billy Speed were huddled, with others, under a statue south of the Tower, trying to figure their next move. Those inside Guadalupe Street businesses huddled together away from windows.Īustin Police were arriving on campus and trying to make their way to the Tower. Thomas Karr, who had probably turned to render aid to Griffin, was then shot in the back. Seventeen-year-old Karen Griffin fell next, and would die a week later. Then Alex Hernandez, a newsboy on a bicycle, fell wounded. Initially, people on Guadalupe Street thought the echoing gunshots were part of a college prank. Known as the Drag, the busy street was lined with businesses and formed the western boundary of the UT campus. It was not yet clear how many shooters there were, but from the number of calls that were coming in to both the Austin Police and the University Police, it seemed there must be an army atop the Tower.Ĭharlie was still moving about the observation deck unhindered, and turned his attention westward, toward Guadalupe Street. An order was given to secure the exits and shut off the elevators. At about noon, University Police arrived at the Tower and proceeded to the 27th floor, where they discovered the Gabour/Lamport party. Wounded victims lay helpless, pinned down in the 95+ degree heat and fearful of being shot again. As others in areas around the Tower began falling, those in surrounding buildings began to take notice. To the east of the Tower at the Computation Center, Thomas Ashton, a Peace Corps trainee, was shot in the chest. Robert Hamilton Boyer, a visiting physics professor, took a bullet to the lower back. When she cried out, an acquaintance, Thomas Eckman turned and asked her what was wrong. The bullet pierced her abdomen and fractured the skull of the baby she carried, killing it. His first target was Claire Wilson, a heavily pregnant eighteen-year-old. Turning his attention to the area of campus known as the South Mall, he began with his most accurate weapon, the scoped 6mm rifle. He wedged the door to the deck shut with the dolly and quickly set about firing. On the observation deck, Charlie unpacked his array of supplies and his guns. People began barricading themselves into classrooms and offices. On the lower floors of the Tower the alarm spread.
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