Lynwood Drake
Encyclopedia
Lynwood Crumpler Drake III (October 10, 1949 – November 8, 1992) was an American actor
and mass murder
er who went on a shooting spree at two homes in Morro Bay
and a card-playing club in Paso Robles, California
, United States
on November 7, 1992. He killed six people and wounded one other, before taking a hostage at another house in San Miguel, where he committed suicide the next morning.
Drake had worked as a bartender, caterer and construction worker, but had also attended acting classes in New York, and had e.g. a minor role in the film The World According to Garp
, though at the time of the shooting he was unemployed and lived off of disability and his grlfriend's welfare.
In June 1991 he was arrested for assaulting a day-care worker after his daughter had suffered a cut in a fall. He was sentenced to one year's probation and ordered to complete a mental health program for aggressive people, though there is no indication that he ever did so.
In May 1992 Drake was evicted from his rental home by his landlord, Andrew Zatko, for not paying his rent for several months, whereupon his common-law wife left him, together with their infant daughter.
In a suicide note later found in his pocket Drake identified himself as Jesse Cole Younger, apparently in allusion to the outlaw and member of the Jesse James gang Cole Younger
, and blamed those, who would later become his first victims, for the estrangement from his girlfriend and daughter, writing "I Jesse Cole Younger killed 3 men because they took my wife, family and daughter from me." Furthermore he harshly criticized his parents and sister, holding them responsible for his troubles and stated that "I have been persecuted my whole life by people." Drake ended his note with the words: "They refused to help. Damn the American family to hell. God forgive me."
where Drake killed 80-year-old Andrew Zatko in the presence of his live-in companion Gladys Walton
, by shooting him in the throat at close range with a revolver. Drake afterwards went to to the home of another of Zatko's former tenants, 37-year-old Norman Metcalfe, who had testified against him at the court proceeding for his eviction and had further helped Zatko by removing Drake from his property. At 6:24 p.m., when Metcalfe came home accompanied by two other men, Drake killed him with a shot between the eyes. He also killed 32-year-old Danny Cizek and wounded Jeffrey Sidlin, 27, in the arm, during a struggle over his gun.
About five hours later, Drake, having armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun, drove to Oak's Card Parlor in Paso Robles
where he had lost several hundred dollars and had been barred for troublemaking and cheating. He killed dealers David Law, 47, and Joe Garcia, 60, and also fatally wounded a customer, 31-year-old Kris Staub, while sparing others who begged for their lives. Finally he made his way to the home of 60-year-old Joanne Morrow – also a former landlord of his – in San Miguel, and, beating her with a blackjack and threatening to kill her, he took her hostage. At approximately 5 a.m. on November 8, the house being surrounded by police, Drake committed suicide with a shot to the head.
According to police, Drake had planned to kill two other people that day, his pastor and the day-care worker, an intent that was hampered by problems with his car.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and mass murder
Mass murder
Mass murder is the act of murdering a large number of people , typically at the same time or over a relatively short period of time. According to the FBI, mass murder is defined as four or more murders occurring during a particular event with no cooling-off period between the murders...
er who went on a shooting spree at two homes in Morro Bay
Morro Bay, California
Morro Bay is a waterfront city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,234, down from 10,350 at the 2000 census.- History :...
and a card-playing club in Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 7, 1992. He killed six people and wounded one other, before taking a hostage at another house in San Miguel, where he committed suicide the next morning.
Life
Drake, who was known as "Crazy Jim" by locals, was said to have often related to others that someday he would kill his enemies and himself. The last time he did so was one day before the shootings, but as he was regarded a "nut" nobody took his threats seriously. According to investigators and acquaintances Drake was a man who felt wronged by almost everyone he met.Drake had worked as a bartender, caterer and construction worker, but had also attended acting classes in New York, and had e.g. a minor role in the film The World According to Garp
The World According to Garp (film)
The World According to Garp is 1982 American comedy drama film directed by George Roy Hill, based on the novel of the same title by John Irving, who also wrote the script together with Steve Tesich...
, though at the time of the shooting he was unemployed and lived off of disability and his grlfriend's welfare.
In June 1991 he was arrested for assaulting a day-care worker after his daughter had suffered a cut in a fall. He was sentenced to one year's probation and ordered to complete a mental health program for aggressive people, though there is no indication that he ever did so.
In May 1992 Drake was evicted from his rental home by his landlord, Andrew Zatko, for not paying his rent for several months, whereupon his common-law wife left him, together with their infant daughter.
In a suicide note later found in his pocket Drake identified himself as Jesse Cole Younger, apparently in allusion to the outlaw and member of the Jesse James gang Cole Younger
Cole Younger
Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger was an American Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War and later an outlaw with the James-Younger gang...
, and blamed those, who would later become his first victims, for the estrangement from his girlfriend and daughter, writing "I Jesse Cole Younger killed 3 men because they took my wife, family and daughter from me." Furthermore he harshly criticized his parents and sister, holding them responsible for his troubles and stated that "I have been persecuted my whole life by people." Drake ended his note with the words: "They refused to help. Damn the American family to hell. God forgive me."
Shooting spree
The shooting started shortly before 6 p.m. at a house in Morro Bay, CaliforniaMorro Bay, California
Morro Bay is a waterfront city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,234, down from 10,350 at the 2000 census.- History :...
where Drake killed 80-year-old Andrew Zatko in the presence of his live-in companion Gladys Walton
Gladys Walton
Gladys Walton was an American actress of screen and stage.-Early life and career:Born in Boston, Massachusetts and educated in Portland, Oregon, Gladys Walton debuted in films in small parts...
, by shooting him in the throat at close range with a revolver. Drake afterwards went to to the home of another of Zatko's former tenants, 37-year-old Norman Metcalfe, who had testified against him at the court proceeding for his eviction and had further helped Zatko by removing Drake from his property. At 6:24 p.m., when Metcalfe came home accompanied by two other men, Drake killed him with a shot between the eyes. He also killed 32-year-old Danny Cizek and wounded Jeffrey Sidlin, 27, in the arm, during a struggle over his gun.
About five hours later, Drake, having armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun, drove to Oak's Card Parlor in Paso Robles
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
where he had lost several hundred dollars and had been barred for troublemaking and cheating. He killed dealers David Law, 47, and Joe Garcia, 60, and also fatally wounded a customer, 31-year-old Kris Staub, while sparing others who begged for their lives. Finally he made his way to the home of 60-year-old Joanne Morrow – also a former landlord of his – in San Miguel, and, beating her with a blackjack and threatening to kill her, he took her hostage. At approximately 5 a.m. on November 8, the house being surrounded by police, Drake committed suicide with a shot to the head.
According to police, Drake had planned to kill two other people that day, his pastor and the day-care worker, an intent that was hampered by problems with his car.
Victims
- Danny Cizek, 32
- Joe Garcia, 60
- David Law, 47
- Norman Metcalfe, 37
- Kris Staub, 30
- Andrew Zatko, 80
External links
- Gunman Kills 6, Himself in Rampage, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
(November 9, 1992) - Killer of 6 Threatened Violence but Wasn't Believed, Police Say, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
(November 10, 1992) - Man Who Gunned Down 6 Had Troubled Background, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
(November 11, 1992) - A Story That Has No Moral, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
(November 15, 1992) - GUNMAN LEAVES 6 DEAD BEFORE TAKING OWN LIFE WELL-PLANNED SPREE CUTS SWATH IN 3 TOWNS, San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury NewsThe San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
(November 9, 1992) - Drake the Flake
- Mother charged in death of 3-year-old daughter / Relatives say father's '92 slaying traumatized her, San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chroniclethumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
(April 11, 2002)