Terry Ratzmann

Infobox Mass Murderer
name = Terry Ratzmann


image_size =
caption =
birthname = Terry Ratzmann
occupation = Computer technician
birth = 1961
location =
death = March 12, 2005
(aged 44)
deathplace = Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States
cause = Suicide
penalty =
date = March 12, 2005
locations = Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States
fatalities = 7
injuries = 4
weapons = Beretta (9mm)

Terry Ratzmann was an American mass murderer who killed seven members of the Living Church of God before committing suicide at a Sheraton Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States in 2005.

Background

Previously living with his mother and sister, Ratzmann was known as an avid gardener who often shared his homegrown produce with the church congregation. On the verge of losing his job as a computer technician with a placement firm, Ratzmann was known to suffer from bouts of depression, and was reportedly infuriated by a sermon the minister had given two weeks earlier.

The shooting

Ratzmann had left the Sheraton Hotel building twenty minutes earlier, and then returned carrying a 9mm handgun, and then fired 22 rounds into the Living Church of God congregation, killing the minister and six others including the minister's son. Four others were wounded; one critically. During the shooting he reportedly spoke aloud to the congregation, telling them that he had brought 3 clips of ammunition and intended to kill the entire congregation [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/13/wisconsin.shootings/] . Ratzmann shot and killed himself midway through the second clip.

Victims

Aftermath

During the police search of the house that Ratzmann shared with his mother and sister, a .22 rifle, ammunition and 3 computers were taken away. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/13/wisconsin.shootings/]

The March 13 autopsy revealed that Ratzmann was suffering from Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a mild congenital heart abnormality and was missing part of three fingers on his left hand, the result of a much earlier injury.

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20040930184149/http://my.execpc.com/~traven/ Archive of Ratzmann's personal website]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/13/wisconsin.shootings/ CNN Report]
* [http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/mar05/309035.asp 8 dead, 4 wounded as New Berlin man opens fire in church meeting]