Hetzel Union Building shooting
Encyclopedia
The Hetzel Union Building shooting refers to an incident at the Pennsylvania State University
where two students were shot, one fatally. At the time of the incident, it was the first murder on the Penn State campus in over 25 years.
, armed with a 7 mm Mauser rifle, hid herself in a large group of bushes outside Penn State's Hetzel Union Building
(HUB). Shooting in the prone position
, Robbins fired 5 shots at passers-by. Twenty-one-year-old journalism student Melanie Spalla was killed, and 20-year-old Nicholas Mensah was wounded in the abdomen. Two students, Kerry Butler and William Mocker, later reported finding damage to their backpacks where bullets had grazed them.
Class of 1997 graduate Brendon Malovrh discovered Robbins and disarmed the woman as she attempted to reload the rifle. Robbins attempted to stab Malovrh, but missed and wounded herself in the thigh. Malovrh stayed with Robbins, treating her leg wound, until police arrived.
One of the fired rounds was found resting on an outdoor windowsill at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister Street, and another on the eighth floor of Penn Tower Apartments, near the intersection of McAllister Street and Beaver Avenue.
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Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
where two students were shot, one fatally. At the time of the incident, it was the first murder on the Penn State campus in over 25 years.
The incident
On the morning of Tuesday, September 17, 1996, Jillian Robbins, a 19-year-old native of State College, PennsylvaniaState College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, armed with a 7 mm Mauser rifle, hid herself in a large group of bushes outside Penn State's Hetzel Union Building
Hetzel Union Building
The HUB–Robeson Center, commonly referred to as the "HUB" is the student union building centrally located on the University Park campus of Pennsylvania State University. It was originally built in 1953 and had major renovations done in 1973 and 1983. The most recent round of expansions and...
(HUB). Shooting in the prone position
Prone position
The term means to lie on bed or ground in a position with chest downwards and back upwards.-Etymology :The word "prone," meaning "naturally inclined to something, apt, liable," has been recorded in English since 1382; the meaning "lying face-down" was first recorded in 1578, but is also referred to...
, Robbins fired 5 shots at passers-by. Twenty-one-year-old journalism student Melanie Spalla was killed, and 20-year-old Nicholas Mensah was wounded in the abdomen. Two students, Kerry Butler and William Mocker, later reported finding damage to their backpacks where bullets had grazed them.
Class of 1997 graduate Brendon Malovrh discovered Robbins and disarmed the woman as she attempted to reload the rifle. Robbins attempted to stab Malovrh, but missed and wounded herself in the thigh. Malovrh stayed with Robbins, treating her leg wound, until police arrived.
One of the fired rounds was found resting on an outdoor windowsill at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister Street, and another on the eighth floor of Penn Tower Apartments, near the intersection of McAllister Street and Beaver Avenue.
Legal outcome
News reports at the time of the incident did not provide a clear indication of motivation for the shootings. Robbins pled guilty to one count of third degree murder (in the case of Spalla) and four counts of attempted murder (in the cases of Mensah, Malovrh, Butler, and Mocker). She is currently serving 30 to 60 years at the State Correctional Institute at MuncyMuncy, Pennsylvania
For other places named 'Muncy', please see Muncy .Muncy is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The name Muncy comes from the Munsee Indians who once lived in the area. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania...
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