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University of Texas Tower Shooting: 60 years later

The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. 1, 1966.On that day, 25-year-old engineering student and former marine Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top of the University of Texas Tower and killed 16 people including an unborn child, and injured 31 others in the span of 96 minutes.One victim originally injured in the massacre died from complications related to his injuries in 2001, considered the 17th death of the shooting. Upon arriving on the 28th floor, Whitman killed a university employee working in the reception area. Minutes later, Whitman used a modified shotgun to gun down a family of tourists in the stairwell. Two of the family members died and two were severely wounded.Whitman would begin shooting from the observation deck around 11:48 a.m.

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Scoop News DeskTexas · Published Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM UTCUpdated Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM UTC

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Whitman had already killed his wife and mother earlier that morning before he made his way to the UT Campus.A special report aired by KTBC that day shows students ducking behind vehicles, running from gunfire, and even some brave individuals running into the gunfire to save those who were wounded and lying in the open.According to the Texas State Historical Association, Whitman arrived on campus around 11:30 a.m. dressed in overalls to disguise himself as a janitor, he had a footlocker with an array of guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

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Version 2unpublished
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:02 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 3updated
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:14 PM UTC
The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. 1, 1966.On that day, 25-year-old engineering student and former marine Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top of the University of Texas Tower and killed 16 people including an unborn child, and injured 31 others in the span of 96 minutes.One victim originally injured in the massacre died from complications related to his injuries in 2001, considered the 17th death of the shooting. Upon arriving on the 28th floor, Whitman killed a university employee working in the reception area. Minutes later, Whitman used a modified shotgun to gun down a family of tourists in the stairwell. Two of the family members died and two were severely wounded.Whitman would begin shooting from the observation deck around 11:48 a.m.
Version 4unpublished
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:20 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 5updated
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:32 PM UTC
The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. 1, 1966.On that day, 25-year-old engineering student and former marine Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top of the University of Texas Tower and killed 16 people including an unborn child, and injured 31 others in the span of 96 minutes.One victim originally injured in the massacre died from complications related to his injuries in 2001, considered the 17th death of the shooting. Upon arriving on the 28th floor, Whitman killed a university employee working in the reception area. Minutes later, Whitman used a modified shotgun to gun down a family of tourists in the stairwell. Two of the family members died and two were severely wounded.Whitman would begin shooting from the observation deck around 11:48 a.m.
Version 6unpublished
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:38 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 7updated
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC
The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. 1, 1966.On that day, 25-year-old engineering student and former marine Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top of the University of Texas Tower and killed 16 people including an unborn child, and injured 31 others in the span of 96 minutes.One victim originally injured in the massacre died from complications related to his injuries in 2001, considered the 17th death of the shooting. Upon arriving on the 28th floor, Whitman killed a university employee working in the reception area. Minutes later, Whitman used a modified shotgun to gun down a family of tourists in the stairwell. Two of the family members died and two were severely wounded.Whitman would begin shooting from the observation deck around 11:48 a.m.
Version 8unpublished
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 3:13 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 9updated
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC
The University of Texas tower shooting, one of the worst campus shootings in American history, happened 60 years ago on Aug. 1, 1966.On that day, 25-year-old engineering student and former marine Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top of the University of Texas Tower and killed 16 people including an unborn child, and injured 31 others in the span of 96 minutes.One victim originally injured in the massacre died from complications related to his injuries in 2001, considered the 17th death of the shooting. Upon arriving on the 28th floor, Whitman killed a university employee working in the reception area. Minutes later, Whitman used a modified shotgun to gun down a family of tourists in the stairwell. Two of the family members died and two were severely wounded.Whitman would begin shooting from the observation deck around 11:48 a.m.
Version 10unpublished
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy