1977 Klamath Falls nightclub shooting
| 1977 Klamath Falls shooting | |
|---|---|
Uncle Albert's Lounge Uncle Albert's Lounge (Oregon) | |
| Location | Uncle Albert's Lounge, 5711 S. Sixth St., Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°13′30″N 121°46′54″W / 42.2249°N 121.7817°W |
| Date | July 23, 1977 12:15 a.m. (UTC-5) |
Attack type | Mass shooting |
| Weapon | Colt AR-15 Sporter .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle |
| Deaths | 7 (including an unborn child) |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrator | DeWitt Henry |
| Convictions | 6 counts of murder, 2 count of attempted murder |
A shooting occurred on July 23, 1977, at the Uncle Albert's Lounge near Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. 26-year-old DeWitt Henry, an unemployed truck driver, armed with a Colt AR-15 Sporter[1][2] semi-automatic rifle, opened fire at the club. Seven people were killed.[3]
Perpetrator
Henry was adopted as an infant in Bakersfield, California, by married couple Andrea Henry an Dewitt Henry. He was a 6'3", 230 pound unemployed trucker at the time of the shooting, but he used to work as a bouncer at the establishment he would later attack. Prior to the shooting, he was convicted of negligent homicide.[4]
Attack
Henry got into an argument with Bill Ransom over a bar bill. Ransom struck Henry during the argument. Henry said "I always liked you – just get on out of here." to James Williamson, the dishwasher at the establishment. After Williamson left, Henry opened fire, killing six people, including a pregnant woman. He also opened fire on two state troopers, who eventually arrested him after a gunfight, where the shooter was wounded.[5][6]
Victims
Deceased:
- Robert Dale Seater, of Klamath Falls, Oregon
- Carrol Ann Seater, of Klamath Falls, Oregon
- Michael Mortensen, of Klamath Falls, Oregon
- Gary Lee Anderson, of Klamath Falls, Oregon
- Andrew Walker, of Medford, Oregon
- James Trueman, of Kodiak, Alaska[7]
Trial
Dewitt Charles Henry was tried in Multnomah County Circuit Court in November 1979. He pleaded not guilty due to a "mental defect".
The jury did not believe the defense's arguments, and DeWitt was found guilty on six counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was given six consecutive life sentences. He was not a candidate for the death penalty because Oregon did not have capital punishment at the time.
As of 2002, DeWitt Henry remains incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary without possibility of parole.[3]
See also
- 1981 Salem, Oregon shooting
- 1984 Autzen Stadium shooting
- 1998 Thurston High School shooting
- 2015 Umpqua Community College shooting
- 2022 Bend, Oregon shooting
References
- ^ https://newrepublic.com/article/176042/ar15-gun-culture-unmade-america
- ^ https://www.theviolenceproject.org/search-the-database/
- ^ a b "State's worst mass murder in KF 25 years ago". Herald and News. July 23, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ "Article clipped from The Times Standard". The Times Standard. 1977-07-26. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Staff, Newsroom (2015-10-07). "Roseburg shootings trigger mass murder memories in Klamath Falls". KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Article clipped from Abilene Reporter-News". Abilene Reporter-News. 1977-07-24. p. 98. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Michelle Brence | The (2015-10-09). "Mass shootings in Oregon: a list". oregonlive. Retrieved 2025-05-07.