University of Texas Tower Shooting Begins Charles Whitman

On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman ascended the University of Texas Tower carrying multiple weapons. He began firing at people below, initiating one of the first modern mass shootings in the United States. The attack unfolded over an extended period, causing widespread panic.

Whitman used the tower’s height and vantage point to target victims over a wide area. He fired from observation decks, striking individuals at random.

Law enforcement quickly realized the scale of the attack and began coordinating a response.