
Herbert Mullin carried out one of his deadliest attacks at a campsite in Santa Cruz County, killing multiple victims in a single incident. The attack marked the peak of his violence and demonstrated his willingness to target groups. The killings were driven by his delusional belief that human sacrifice was preventing natural disasters.
Mullin approached the campsite and opened fire on the victims. The attack was sudden and indiscriminate.
Authorities began intensifying efforts to identify a suspect due to the scale of the violence.