Russel family shooting

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Russell family murders
Location Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
DateJune 4, 1925
Attack type
Mass murder, spree killing, Familicide
WeaponTwo revolvers [1] [2]
Deaths8
Injured0
PerpetratorFrancis Lloyd Russell

On June 4, 1925, Francis Lloyd Russell, a 43-year-old man described as having become violently insane, fatally shot eight members of his family while most of them were sleeping in a mass shooting in Hamilton, Ohio, after which he attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in his left lung, causing injury. [3] [4]

Russell shot and killed his 60-year-old mother, his brother, his brother's wife, along with five of their children. One of their children, their 10-year-old daughter, was unharmed after she hid under a bed. [5] After fatally shooting the victims, Russell continued to shoot his lifeless nieces and nephews. [6] Russell used two weapons to commit the shooting, and fired around 50 shots. According to authorities, Russel "talked incoherently about a mortgage on the home and said he would shoot the pictures off the wall." [7]

References

  1. "CHARGED WITH KILLING 8.; Hamilton (Ohio) Man Accused of Murder on Niece's Testimony". New York Times. June 14, 1925.
  2. "HEAT-CRAZED MAN KILLS 8 OF FAMILY; Shoots Mother, Brother, Sister-in-Law, Nephews and Nieces in Hamilton, Ohio. SHOTS MISS FAINTING GIRL Child of 10 Tells How Uncle Opened Fire on Sleeping Household -- He Finally Wounds Himself". New York Times. June 5, 1925.
  3. "Fear of Eviction Leads to Death of Eight, by Lunatic". The Independent-Record . Associated Press. June 5, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  4. "Murder Frenzy". Dayton Daily News . June 8, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  5. "Deranged, Man Slays 8 Of His Family". The Leaf-Chronicle . June 4, 1925. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. "Maniac Kills 8 And Shoots Self". The North Wilkesboro Hustler . June 10, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. "Killed Eight Members of His Family and Wounded Himself; Thought Insane". Quad-City Times . June 4, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2024.