Olean High School shooting
Encyclopedia
The Olean High School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on December 30, 1974 at Olean High School
in Olean
, New York
, United States
. The gunman, 17-year-old Anthony Barbaro, an honor student and member of the school's rifle team, indiscriminately shot at people on the street from windows at the third floor of the school building. Three people were killed and another 11 people were injured during the shooting.
On November 1, 1975, Anthony Barbaro hanged himself in his prison cell at the Cattaraugus County Jail.
at approximately 2:50 p.m. After leaving his car, he entered the school building through an opened side entrance and proceeded to the third floor where he set off a smoke bomb. He was then confronted by a custodian who pulled the fire alarm while investigating the smoke. Barbaro then shot and killed him. Barbaro then positioned himself in the student council room on the third floor of the school. There he began shooting at people outside of the school. A 12-man custodial crew was doing routine maintenance in the basement of the school during the shooting. By 5:20 p.m., over 50 local and county police officers were surrounding the school building, and a National Guard
armored vehicle had arrived to remove the injured victims. Two police officers and four national guardsmen soon entered the school and threw two tear gas grenades into the student council room, where Barbaro was found unconscious inside the room wearing a defective gas mask. Barbaro was laid onto a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the Olean City Jail.
Three people were killed in the shooting, and eleven people were wounded. Those killed were Earl Metcalf, Neal Pilon, and Carmen Wright Drayton. Earl Metcalf, 62, was killed inside the school building, while Columbia Gas Co. employee Neal Pilon, 58, was shot while crossing the street outside of the school. Carmen Wright, 25, was shot in the head inside her car while driving by the school. Both Pilon and Wright were pronounced 'dead on arrival' at Olean General Hospital. Seven people survived the shooting with gunshot wounds, while four others sustained injuries from flying glass fragments. Eight of the wounded victims were Olean city firemen responding to a fire complaint at the school. The Olean High School shooting is also one of the first know high school shootings in America, however the none of the injured, or killed where students attending school.
class, and was inducted into the National Honor Society
in February 1974. He had also won a Regents Scholarship to New York University
that December. Those who knew Barbaro remember him as being quiet, and his school principal described him as a "loner". Louis Nicol, former principal of Olean High School, said that Barbaro excelled scholastically and caused no disciplinary problems at school. Barbaro lived in Olean, New York with his parents and his three younger siblings – sister Cecile, brothers Steven and Chris. His father was an executive of a successful manufacturing firm, while Anthony worked with his mother at a local fast-food restaurant. Barbaro had also shown an interest in engineering
, and had hoped to become a scientist.
Police have found no apparent motives as to why Barbaro committed his crimes. A teammate of Barbaro's on the school's rifle team recalls Barbaro having spoken of wanting to "hold up" the Olean Armory and engage in a police-standoff. Barbaro had just tried out for the bowling team and did not make it.
In a note explaining his motives Barbaro wrote:
"I guess I just wanted to kill the person I hate most -- myself, I just didn't have the courage. I wanted to die, but I couldn't do it, so I had to get someone to do it for me. It didn't work out."
on three counts of second-degree murder, six counts of first-degree assault, and five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Barbaro was then being held without bail
at the Olean City Jail. Following the shooting, police had found homemade propane bombs in Barbaro's bedroom, as well as bomb recipes and a journal that detailed his plans of the shooting. In April 1975, he had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, however he was found competent to stand trial by two court-appointed psychiatrists. Barbaro was soon transferred from the Olean City Jail to the Cattaraugus County Jail in Little Valley
. On October 21, 1975, a grand jury was seated for Barbaro's trial at the Olean Municipal Building. On October 27, defense attorney Vincent E. Doyle, Jr. presented his testimony
at a preliminary hearing, stating that Barbaro had a "serious, deep-rooted mental illness that precluded his [Barbaro's] conviction." On November 1, 1975, Barbaro hanged himself with a bedsheet in his cell at the Cattaraugus County Jail. Cattaraugus County coroner Dr. Harry C. Law ruled the death a suicide
. Barbaro had written three suicide note
s that were found on his bed in his cell. One note was addressed to his family, another note was addressed to a woman he corresponded with in prison, and the third note was addressed "to whom it may concern".
The third note read:
Olean High School
Olean High School is a high school located in Olean, New York, about 65 miles south of Buffalo, New York.It is known for its athletics programs. It also has numerous clubs, including Model United Nations. It is located within the Oak Hill Park Historic District.-External links:*...
in Olean
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The gunman, 17-year-old Anthony Barbaro, an honor student and member of the school's rifle team, indiscriminately shot at people on the street from windows at the third floor of the school building. Three people were killed and another 11 people were injured during the shooting.
On November 1, 1975, Anthony Barbaro hanged himself in his prison cell at the Cattaraugus County Jail.
Details
The incident began during the afternoon of December 30, 1974, when Barbaro left his house with his mother's car. He told his brother Chris that he was going target shooting. He arrived at Olean High SchoolOlean High School
Olean High School is a high school located in Olean, New York, about 65 miles south of Buffalo, New York.It is known for its athletics programs. It also has numerous clubs, including Model United Nations. It is located within the Oak Hill Park Historic District.-External links:*...
at approximately 2:50 p.m. After leaving his car, he entered the school building through an opened side entrance and proceeded to the third floor where he set off a smoke bomb. He was then confronted by a custodian who pulled the fire alarm while investigating the smoke. Barbaro then shot and killed him. Barbaro then positioned himself in the student council room on the third floor of the school. There he began shooting at people outside of the school. A 12-man custodial crew was doing routine maintenance in the basement of the school during the shooting. By 5:20 p.m., over 50 local and county police officers were surrounding the school building, and a National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
armored vehicle had arrived to remove the injured victims. Two police officers and four national guardsmen soon entered the school and threw two tear gas grenades into the student council room, where Barbaro was found unconscious inside the room wearing a defective gas mask. Barbaro was laid onto a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the Olean City Jail.
Three people were killed in the shooting, and eleven people were wounded. Those killed were Earl Metcalf, Neal Pilon, and Carmen Wright Drayton. Earl Metcalf, 62, was killed inside the school building, while Columbia Gas Co. employee Neal Pilon, 58, was shot while crossing the street outside of the school. Carmen Wright, 25, was shot in the head inside her car while driving by the school. Both Pilon and Wright were pronounced 'dead on arrival' at Olean General Hospital. Seven people survived the shooting with gunshot wounds, while four others sustained injuries from flying glass fragments. Eight of the wounded victims were Olean city firemen responding to a fire complaint at the school. The Olean High School shooting is also one of the first know high school shootings in America, however the none of the injured, or killed where students attending school.
Perpetrator and motives
The perpetrator of the shooting was 17-year-old Anthony F. Barbaro, a life-long Olean resident. He had attended Olean High School, where he was an honor student and a star marksman on his school's rifle team. He ranked eighth highest academic score in his seniorSenior Year
Senior Year can refer to:* Senior ; the final year in high school or college* Senior Year , the 2010 film by Filipino director Jerrold Tarog* The Lockheed U-2...
class, and was inducted into the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
in February 1974. He had also won a Regents Scholarship to New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
that December. Those who knew Barbaro remember him as being quiet, and his school principal described him as a "loner". Louis Nicol, former principal of Olean High School, said that Barbaro excelled scholastically and caused no disciplinary problems at school. Barbaro lived in Olean, New York with his parents and his three younger siblings – sister Cecile, brothers Steven and Chris. His father was an executive of a successful manufacturing firm, while Anthony worked with his mother at a local fast-food restaurant. Barbaro had also shown an interest in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, and had hoped to become a scientist.
Police have found no apparent motives as to why Barbaro committed his crimes. A teammate of Barbaro's on the school's rifle team recalls Barbaro having spoken of wanting to "hold up" the Olean Armory and engage in a police-standoff. Barbaro had just tried out for the bowling team and did not make it.
In a note explaining his motives Barbaro wrote:
"I guess I just wanted to kill the person I hate most -- myself, I just didn't have the courage. I wanted to die, but I couldn't do it, so I had to get someone to do it for me. It didn't work out."
Aftermath
On December 31, 1974, Anthony Barbaro was arraignedArraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
on three counts of second-degree murder, six counts of first-degree assault, and five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Barbaro was then being held without bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
at the Olean City Jail. Following the shooting, police had found homemade propane bombs in Barbaro's bedroom, as well as bomb recipes and a journal that detailed his plans of the shooting. In April 1975, he had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, however he was found competent to stand trial by two court-appointed psychiatrists. Barbaro was soon transferred from the Olean City Jail to the Cattaraugus County Jail in Little Valley
Little Valley, New York
Little Valley, New York may refer to:*Little Valley , New York*Little Valley , New York, the county seat, in the northwest corner of the town...
. On October 21, 1975, a grand jury was seated for Barbaro's trial at the Olean Municipal Building. On October 27, defense attorney Vincent E. Doyle, Jr. presented his testimony
Testimony
In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. All testimonies should be well thought out and truthful. It was the custom in Ancient Rome for the men to place their right hand on a Bible when taking an oath...
at a preliminary hearing, stating that Barbaro had a "serious, deep-rooted mental illness that precluded his [Barbaro's] conviction." On November 1, 1975, Barbaro hanged himself with a bedsheet in his cell at the Cattaraugus County Jail. Cattaraugus County coroner Dr. Harry C. Law ruled the death a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Barbaro had written three suicide note
Suicide note
A suicide note or death note is a message that states the author has died by suicide, and left to be discovered and read in anticipation of suicide....
s that were found on his bed in his cell. One note was addressed to his family, another note was addressed to a woman he corresponded with in prison, and the third note was addressed "to whom it may concern".
The third note read:
Wounded victims
A total of eleven people survived the shooting with injuries.- Albert J. Abdo, 37 — Olean
- Wayne L. Dutton — HinsdaleHinsdale, New YorkHinsdale is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,270 at the 2000 census. The town was named after another location: Hinsdale, New Hampshire....
- Wayne Dutton's son — Hinsdale
- Herbert Van Elmore, 43 — Olean
- William Robert Fromme, 35 — Olean
- David A. Grosse, 28 — Olean
- Raymon C. Limerick, 40 — Olean
- Capt. Joseph James Snopkowski, 55 — AlleganyAllegany (village), New YorkAllegany is a village in Cattaraugus County, New York, USA. The population was 1,883 at the 2000 census.The Village of Allegany is by the east town line of the Town of Allegany, west of the City of Olean.St...
- Earl R. Weidt, 23 — Olean
- George H. Williams — Olean
- Julius A. Wright, 12 — PortvillePortville, New YorkPortville, New York is a village and a town in Cattaraugus County, New York.*Portville , New York*Portville , New York...