tags: black suspect, mental illness motive, voices, Malcolm X, black nationalist, political beliefs, drive-by shooting, shotgun, Washington DC, shooting spree, pedestrian victim, computer science degree, successful, random victim, possible domestic terrorist, serial killer, mass shooting
similar: DC sniper, Hong Young NSA, Nhan Lap Tran
4 killed, 5 injured, 14 attacks February 23-April 19, 1993 James Swann Drive-By Shotgun Domestic Terrorist Blamed Voices James Swann, an African American with an associates degree in computer science drove to Washington DC to carry out drive by shooting attacks on pedestrians in the Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights neighborhoods. Swann would slow his car down next to a pedestrian and fire a 20-gauge shotgun at the target before driving away. Four people were killed and five injured in 14 attacks by Swann before he was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police on April 19, 1993. Swann was found not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to Saint Elizabeths Hospital. He claimed to have been driven to the killings by voices in his head, including that of the ghost of Malcolm X, who told him to kill people in Northwest Washington—the "civil rights side of town"—because they had been responsible for the civil rights leader's assassination in 1965.
*Reference:
- Wikipedia: James Swann
James Swann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For those of a similar name, see James Swan (disambiguation).
| James Swann | |
|---|---|
| Born | James E. Swann, Jr. 1964 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Former security guard |
| Parent(s) | James Swann, Sr. |
| Motive | Mental illness |
| Killings | |
| Date | February 23-April 19, 1993 |
| Location(s) | Washington, D.C. |
| Killed | 4 |
| Injured | 5 |
| Weapons | Shotgun |
James Edward Swann, Jr., a.k.a. "The Shotgun Stalker" (born 1964), is an American serial killerwhose random drive-by shotgun shootings in Washington, DC in 1993 earned him his nickname in the press. Swann was living in the Iselin section of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey before the attacks.[1]
Murders[edit]
Swann drove to Washington to carry out the attacks, which took place in the Mount Pleasant andColumbia Heights neighborhoods. Each of the attacks followed a standard format: Swann would slow his car down next to a pedestrian and fire a 20-gauge shotgun at the target before driving away. Four people were killed and five injured in 14 attacks by Swann before he was apprehended by the Metropolitan Policeon April 19, 1993.[1]
In custody[edit]
Swann was found not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to Saint Elizabeths Hospital.[2] He claimed to have been driven to the killings by voices in his head, including that of the ghost of Malcolm X, who told him to kill people in Northwest Washington—the "civil rights side of town"—because they had been responsible for the civil rights leader's assassination in 1965.[2][3]
In 2011 Swann applied for a 12-hour furlough from the psychiatric hospital where he has been committed in order to visit his father. Such a visit was to be under his father's supervision. Witnesses for Swann pointed out that he has earned an Associate degree in Computer Science.[4]
A psychologist testifying on his behalf said that he had reviewed Swann's records, which showed that Swann "had not had a violent episode at the hospital since 2003, and his aggression with his psychosis was gone." This psychologist felt that Swann has a "low risk" of violence. However, as recently as 2008, Swann was still suffering from hallucinations.[4]
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Kennedy, Swann´s father had given him a tee shirt with the phrase "Thrill to Kill" emblazoned on it, which Swann enjoyed wearing.[4] The request for a furlough was denied.[5]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to:a b Kovaleski, Serge F. (20 April 1993). "N.J. man arrested after another shotgun slaying". Washington Post.
^ Jump up to:a b Duggan, Paul (27 September 1994). "Shotgun stalker ruled insane, not guilty". washingtonpost.com.
Jump up^ McKay, Jack. "The Shotgun Stalker -- a two-month nightmare". DCJACK.org. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
^ Jump up to:a b c Alexander, Keith L. (15 February 2011). "D.C. shotgun shooter seeks 12-hour release from St. Elizabeths". washingtonpost.com.
Jump up^ Alexander, Keith L. (25 February 2011). "Judge denies D.C. shotgun stalker 12-hour release from St. Elizabeth's". washingtonpost.com.
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