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Where'd They Get Their Guns?

An Analysis of the Firearms Used in High-Profile Shootings, 1963 to 2001

Date: March 6, 1998

Location: Connecticut State Lottery Headquarters, Newington, Connecticut

Alleged Shooter: Matthew Beck

People Killed: Five (shooter committed suicide)

People Injured: None

Firearm(s): 9mm pistol


Circumstances

Beck had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals and had attempted suicide several times in the past. He had been on "stress related" leave from work at the lottery for several months, and was feuding with his boss over back pay and other issues. On March 6, 1998, he walked into the lottery headquarters and shot four top lottery officials including his boss, before killing himself.


How Firearm(s) Acquired

Despite his history of mental problems, Beck had been a legal gun owner for years. Beck had been issued a permit for the 9mm pistol used in the shooting.

 
  1. "CT Shooting," All Things Considered, 6 March 1998.
  2. Blaine Harden, "Worker Kills Four at Conn. Lottery; Accountant Shoots Executives, Self," The Washington Post, 7 March 1998, sec. A, p. 1.
  3. Ric Kahn, "Shootings Put Microscope on Holes in Conn. Gun Law," The Boston Globe, 10 March 1998, sec. B, p. 2.

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 All contents � 2001 Violence Policy Center

 


The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.