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[[Category:Crime in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Crime in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Spree shootings]]
[[Category:Spree shootings]]
[[Category:School massacres in Australia]]
[[Category:School schootings in Australia]]
[[Category:Massacres in Australia]]
[[Category:Shootings in Australia]]
[[Category:University shootings]]
[[Category:University shootings]]

Revision as of 22:02, 28 May 2007

The Monash University shooting refers to a shooting in which a student shot his classmates and teacher, killing two and injuring five. It took place at Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on October 21, 2002.

Events of October 21

At 11:24am on October 21[1], Huan Yun "Allen" Xiang[2], a commerce student at the university[3], armed with five loaded handguns, opened fire in room E 659 of the Menzies Building on Monash's Clayton campus[4] in an econometrics class containing twelve students. [5] People in the classroom were initially confused by the noise and by Xiang screaming "You never understand me" from the desk he was standing on.[5]

Xiang killed two students in the room:[2][6]

  1. Xu Hui "William" Wu, an international student from Hong Kong and neighbour of Xiang's in Melbourne; and
  2. Steven Chan, a student from Doncaster.

Xiang wounded five others: [3][5][6] [7]

  1. lecturer Lee Gordon-Brown, who was shot in the arm and knee;
  2. student Daniel Urbach, who was wounded in the shoulder and arm;
  3. student Laurie Brown, who was wounded in the leg and abdomen;
  4. student Christine Young, who was shot in the face; and
  5. student Leigh Dat Huynh, who was discharged from hospital within a day.

When Xiang stopped shooting and moved to switch weapons, Lee Gordon-Brown, the injured lecturer, grabbed Xiang's hands as he reached into his jacket. Gordon-Brown and a student in the room, Alastair Boast, a trained kung fu practitioner, tackled him.[3][5][8] [9] Bradley Thompson later entered the room and discovered other guns in a holster around Xiang's waist, and removed two magazines from near his left hip and a revolver from the base of his back.[2]

After Gordon-Brown collapsed, Boast and Thompson were helped by a lecturer from a nearby room, Brett Inder, to restrain Xiang for fifteen minutes until police arrived while student Andrew Swann and university administrator Colin Thornby provided first aid. [1][4][10] [11] At least one injured student reportedly left the room and sought help for his injuries from security staff.[12]

Xiang was deemed by police to be unfit for interview but wrote a note referring to William Wu after his arrest saying "I finally ended WW's life." [1][5]

All classes in the Menzies Building were cancelled for the rest of the day and the university set up counselling stations.[12].

Trial

Xiang pleaded not guilty before his trial to two counts of murder and five of attempted murder on account of mental impairment.[13]

During his two day trial[14], prosecutor Sue Pullen presented evidence that Xiang felt the killings were his destiny.[5] Evidence showed that Xiang had joined the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia in April 2002[2][5], and gained a handgun licence in June 2002[2]. One lecturer, Gael Martin, told the court that she had expressed concerns about his mental state a week prior to the shootings[5]. Evidence was offered that he delusional beliefs that William Wu was an agent of evil and would destroy him academically, and that his actions on October 21 2002 focused on fufiling a perceived destiny to kill Wu.[13][14]

The defence and prosecution in Xiang's trial agreed that he suffered from a paranoid delusional disorder.[1] The prosecution asked the jury to find him not guilty.[13] On June 17, 2004 the Victorian Supreme Court jury found him not guilty of the murder of Wu and Chan and of the attempted murder of five other people in the tutorial room due to mental impairment. Justice Bernard Teague ordered Xiang be transferred to the Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital. He may be held there for as long as 25 years.[1][14]

Responses

Memorials

On October 22 2002, flags on Clayton campus flew at half mast, and a graffiti artist wrote "Life is short. Cherish your friends. Love one another. R.I.P."on a campus billboard.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). On the first anniversary of the shootings, October 21 2003, a day of reflection was held on Clayton campus.[4]

William Wu and Steven Chan were posthumously awarded honours degrees by Monash University.[7]

Media

Early media coverage focussed on Xiang's limited English skills and resulting difficulties communicating as possible contributing factors to his decisions[3] [15] [16].

There was also editorial coverage arguing both for and against additional legal restrictions on handguns being introduced in Australia. [17] [18]

Gun ownership laws

Main article: Gun politics in Australia

Australian Prime Minister John Howard promised a review of Australian gun laws after it was discovered that Xiang had had a gun licence and had legally acquired his weapons.[19] The Victorian State Government prepared new laws doubling the punishment for misuse of handguns and introducing new laws against trafficking in handguns almost immediately after the shooting.[6]

The National Handgun Buyback Act 2003 was signed into law on June 30 2003. New restrictions were put in place on maximum calibre and number of shots for handguns and minimum barrel lengths for single-shot guns, revolvers and semi-automatics.[20] [21] Victoria began its handgun buyback scheme in August 2003.[22] [23]

Bravery awards

Lee Gordon-Brown, Alastair Boast, Brett Inder, Bradley Thompson, Andrew Swann and Colin Thornby all received bravery awards for their part in restraining Xiang and helping injured victims.[1][24] [25] The Royal Humane Society awarded Gordon-Brown the 2005 Stanhope Gold Medal, the highest Commonwealth award for bravery. In addition The Royal Humane Society of Australia (RHSA) awarded him the 2004 Clarke Gold Medal of the RHSA and he was awarded the Star of Courage, the second highest award for bravery in the Australian honours system. The RHSA awarded Alastair Boast the Gold Medal of the RHSA.[9][26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Australian Associated Press (2004-06-14). "Killer sent to psych hospital". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e Berry, Jamie (2003-09-12). "How a shooting spree changed the nation's gun laws". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  3. ^ a b c d Murphy, Padraic (2002-10-22). "Two die as gunman attacks his own class". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c Rood, David (2003-10-21). "Reluctant heroes draw positives from pain". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Berry, Jamie (2003-09-12). "Student believed Monash killings were 'his destiny'". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  6. ^ a b c Crabb, Annabel (2002-10-23). "PM flags tougher gun laws". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  7. ^ a b Ketchell, Misha (2002-10-26). "Shooting victims awarded degrees". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  8. ^ Webster, Andrew (2002-10-23). "Kung fu fighter a modest campus hero". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  9. ^ a b "Gallant Australian academic wins highest Commonwealth bravery award" (Press release). The Royal Humane Society of Australia. 2006-07-06. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  10. ^ Milovanovic, Selma (2002-10-23). "Man accused of uni deaths remanded in custody". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Tozer, Kate (2002-10-22). "Students at Monash University remember the heroes". PM, ABC. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  12. ^ a b "Two shot dead, five wounded at Monash Uni". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2002-10-21. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  13. ^ a b c Australian Associated Press (2004-06-15). "Monash murder accused 'mentally impaired'". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  14. ^ a b c Topsfield, Jewel (2004-06-18). "Monash gunman not guilty". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  15. ^ Murphy, Padraic (2002-10-22). "Talented loner who struggled in class". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Rees, Margaret (2002-10-29). "Two students killed in Australian university shooting". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  17. ^ Whitley, John (2002-10-31). "Let everyone have a gun". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  18. ^ Costello, Tim (2002-10-24). "Firearms: the repeating menace". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  19. ^ "Gun laws under scrutiny after Monash shooting". ABC News Online. 2002-10-23. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  20. ^ Governor General of Australia. "Assent of Acts". Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  21. ^ Hudson, Phillip (2003-06-30). "Prices set in handgun crackdown". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  22. ^ Hudson, Phillip (2003-07-01). "Victoria delays gun buyback move". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  23. ^ Strong, Geoff (2003-08-09). "Day one of the gun buy-back tough for some". The Age. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  24. ^ "Ambulance service awards honour our community heroes" (Press release). State Government Victoria. 2002-12. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Monash heroes and indigenous lecturers recognised alongside Australia's leading university teachers" (Press release). The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP - Media Centre. 2002-12-03. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  26. ^ "Highest Commonwealth bravery award for Monash academic" (Press release). Monash University. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2007-04-18.


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