In 1991, a horrific massacre rocked the state of Texas that left 23 people dead, 27 people wounded and so many more lives changed forever. But this massacre was truly like no other, and the warning signs had been present for years. Join us as we examine what led up to one of the most infamous mass shootings in American history. Warning, this is an incredibly disturbing episode, and listener discretion is advised. - Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica Instagram: http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: What happened during the 1991 Luby's Massacre?
Warning, the following podcast is not suitable for all audiences. We go into great detail with every case that we cover and do our best to bring viewers even deeper into the stories by utilizing disturbing audio and sound effects.
Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.
This podcast is not for everyone. You have been warned.
In last week's episode, we talked about the life of George Joe Hinnard, the man responsible for taking the lives of 23 people during the 1991 Luby's Massacre. George grew up in a strict military family. He would eventually follow in his father's footsteps and join the Navy, but his disagreeable personality made it hard for him to hold down a job.
It also made it hard for him to maintain relationships. Throughout the 1980s, George Henard's mental health was on a downward spiral. He became overwhelmingly paranoid, he distrusted women, and he truly believed that people were following him and tapping his phones. But none of this was actually happening.
George Henard showed signs of his mental decline for years, and sadly, no one stepped in to intervene. Then, on October 16th, 1991, in his final act, George would commit one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. So today's episode is about just that, the horrific massacre that forever changed the town of Killeen, Texas.
It's also about the victims who lost their lives, the survivors, and the aftermath of this terrible tragedy. I'm Courtney Browen.
And I'm Colin Browen.
Thank you.
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Chapter 2: Who was George Hennard and what led to the shooting?
33-year-old Walmart employee Tom Simmons was one of these people. Even though he had just been hit by the truck, Tom pulled himself off the ground and approached the truck's passenger side door. But in response, the driver, 35-year-old George Hennard, aimed his P89 Ruger and fired four shots in Tom's direction. From there, Tom Simmons stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.
And it was at that very moment, When everyone inside realized that this was no accident, George Hinnard had just murdered his first victim.
Tom Simmons had lived in Killeen for the past four years with his wife, Anne Marie, and their two young daughters, Diane and Christie. Growing up as an Eagle Scout, Tom had learned the importance of working hard and giving back to his community. He had recently been promoted to the manager of Walmart's automotive department. His coworkers would later say, he was an easy man to work for.
If you wanted someone to talk to, you could talk to him about anything. He was also described as a good man who took care of people, which is exactly what he was doing when he was murdered. Tom tried helping George Hennard, thinking he was in need of help, and in response, he was shot in cold blood.
Now, the other Walmart employee, Luis Carabello, whose leg was injured from the crash, laid helplessly on the floor. Not only did he hurt his leg, but he had also been hit by a stray bullet. But luckily, Luis would make it out alive.
At this point, everyone was frantic, running around the restaurant trying to find an exit. But many were unable to escape. So all they could do was duck under the tables and hide. They then watched as the gunman emerged from his truck, wielding two semi-automatic pistols in each of his hands. And he still had a cigarette dangling from his lips as he screamed out, this is for the women of Belton.
Belton was the city where George had been living. the very city where he terrorized women with his strange and paranoid behavior. But from there, George began wielding his guns, shooting randomly throughout. The sounds of gunfire filled the air, and in just a few short seconds, George had fired 34 rounds into the crowd of people.
Now keep in mind, there were over 160 people inside of Luby's that day. So the scene was chaotic as people ran for their lives. The ones closest to the truck when it crashed through the building were the first targeted victims. Many were still on the ground after being catapulted through the air. And before they were even able to get up, they saw the gunmen coming in their direction.
One of these people was 57-year-old Patricia Carney. Patricia was the director of elementary curriculum for the Killeen School District. Her employees had brought her to Luby's that day to celebrate her, on Boss's Day. So with Patricia were a few colleagues, including her husband Sam, who was a district attendance officer.
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Chapter 3: What was the atmosphere at Luby's on the day of the shooting?
And the Red Cross has also set up a counseling program to offer assistance to grieving relatives and survivors of today's shooting.
The town of Killeen, Texas was completely devastated with the loss of 23 lives, 24 if you count the gunmen. At the time, Killeen only had a population of around 60,000, so it was a pretty tight-knit community. And the Luby's restaurant, once a staple in town, was now eerily quiet, as the weight of heartbreak and sorrow had silenced everything.
friends neighbors and loved ones clung to each other as they tried to make sense of the tragedy and they came together as a community to honor the lives lost patricia carney jimmy eugene carruthers criminal kitty davis lieutenant colonel stephen charles doughty united states army al gracia jr ursula susie gracia deborah ann gray dr michael griffith venice allen henehan claudine humphrey sylvia king
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That night, as the news hit the national media, America mourned right along with the town of Killeen, Texas. Back in 1991, before Columbine and Sandy Hook, a senseless act of violence like this wasn't common like it is today. People couldn't understand how something like this could have happened. And like with every tragedy, People just wanted to know why.
Why would a man set out to shoot and kill as many people as he could? Sadly, we are still asking these questions today and we still don't have answers.
Following the shooting, the identity of the shooter was released to the public, 35-year-old George Joe Henard. Interestingly, George's real name was George Pierre Henard, but shortly before the shooting, he had changed it to George Joe. But from here, investigators would try to piece together the puzzle as to what made George snap.
Something obviously snapped today in the brain of a 35-year-old Belton resident, Belton being about seven or eight miles from here. 35-year-old George Henard, no prison record, but unemployed and apparently a very angry man. He was the subject of numerous complaints to the Belton Police Department from neighbors who complained the man was screaming and seemed to be mentally deranged.
He was an angry man who let that anger spill over today at a crowded cafeteria dining room here on Highway 190.
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