Patrick Sherrill
Encyclopedia
Patrick Henry Sherrill (November 13, 1941 – August 20, 1986) was a United States Postal Service
employee who, on August 20, 1986, in Edmond, Oklahoma
, killed 14 employees with two .45 caliber
pistols at his work place before turning one of the guns on himself and committing suicide. Six other employees were wounded.
Security expert Gavin de Becker
said that postal authorities ignored numerous signs of Sherrill's unstable and hostile attitude.
Sherrill was a relief carrier who would work routes on different days. He was making delivery errors and frequently delivered mail later than the customers were used to getting it. On the afternoon of August 19, 1986, Sherrill was reprimanded by two supervisors in a glassed-walled office.
Shortly after 8:00AM the next day, he began his rampage by shooting one of the two supervisors who had spoken to him the previous day. The other supervisor had, for the first time ever, overslept and was an hour late to work, by which time the shootings were already underway. The second victim was Mike Rockne, grandson of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne
. Fourteen people died during the attack, and six others were wounded. Some of the wounded survived because they played dead. The incident lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.
The incident is credited with inspiring the American phrase "going postal
".
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
employee who, on August 20, 1986, in Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,405, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Oklahoma....
, killed 14 employees with two .45 caliber
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
pistols at his work place before turning one of the guns on himself and committing suicide. Six other employees were wounded.
Security expert Gavin de Becker
Gavin de Becker
Gavin de Becker is a specialist in security issues, primarily for governments, large corporations, and celebrities.-Career:...
said that postal authorities ignored numerous signs of Sherrill's unstable and hostile attitude.
Sherrill was a relief carrier who would work routes on different days. He was making delivery errors and frequently delivered mail later than the customers were used to getting it. On the afternoon of August 19, 1986, Sherrill was reprimanded by two supervisors in a glassed-walled office.
Shortly after 8:00AM the next day, he began his rampage by shooting one of the two supervisors who had spoken to him the previous day. The other supervisor had, for the first time ever, overslept and was an hour late to work, by which time the shootings were already underway. The second victim was Mike Rockne, grandson of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
. Fourteen people died during the attack, and six others were wounded. Some of the wounded survived because they played dead. The incident lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.
The incident is credited with inspiring the American phrase "going postal
Going postal
Going postal, in American English slang, means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment....
".
Sherrill's victims
External links
- Going postal
- "Crazy Pat's" Revenge, Time Magazine (June 24, 2001)
- The loner: From shy football player to "Crazy Pat", The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(August 22, 1986) - Aug. 20, 1986: Just an ordinary day, EnidNews.com (August 20, 2006)