University of Texas tower shooting

The University of Texas tower shooting was a major school shooting. It happened on August 1, 1966. It took place in Austin, Texas at University of Texas at Austin.

Sixteen people were killed in the incident. A 17th victim succumbed to his injuries in 2001.

Charles Whitman was the mass murderer at the scene of the crime. It has been suggested that Whitman's violent impulses, with which he struggled for years, were caused by a tumor on his brain. Whitman had also killed his wife and mother.

After the shootings, the observation deck was closed. The many bullet holes were repaired. The tower was closed again in 1975 after four suicides. It reopened in 1999 after security features were put up.