2002 University of Arizona shooting
School shooting in Arizona, U.S.
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On October 28, 2002, a school shooting at the University of Arizona nursing school resulted in the deaths of three nursing professors. The perpetrator, Robert Flores, then killed himself.[2]
c. 8:30 a.m. (MST)
- .45-caliber Norinco M1911 semi-automatic pistol
- .40-caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol
- 9mm CZ semi-automatic pistol
- .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver
- .357 Magnum Colt revolver[1]
| 2002 University of Arizona shooting | |
|---|---|
| Location | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Date | October 28, 2002 c. 8:30 a.m. (MST) |
Attack type | School shooting, murder–suicide, mass murder |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 4 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Robert Flores |
Shooting
The shooting began around 8:30 a.m. when Flores arrived at the university's nursing building with five handguns and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.[3][4] Once there, he entered an office on the second floor and shot Robin Rogers, a clinical assistant professor, multiple times. Flores then proceeded to a classroom on the fourth floor where students were taking an exam in critical care. There, he shot both Barbara Monroe, a clinical assistant professor, and Cheryl McGaffic, a clinical associate professor. All victims were professors of the shooter.[5][6][7]
Perpetrator
Robert Stewart Flores Jr. was a 41-year-old Gulf War veteran and licensed practical nurse. Reportedly, he was studying to become a registered nurse. However, he had failed a pediatric nursing course and was failing his critical care course, taught by Barbara Monroe, at the time of the shooting.[6][8] Flores was also a divorced father of two.[5]
Letter
Flores Jr. mailed a 22-page letter to Arizona Daily Star shortly before killing three people and himself at the University of Arizona. The newspaper staff decided to publish the letter on its website. In a note with the letter when it was posted online, editor Bobbie Jo Buel stated they "decided to run excerpts in these pages and the entire letter online — not to give voice to a killer who doesn't deserve it but with the hope that it helps our hurting community come to grips with his twisted act."[9]
