The UT Tower Tragedy Revisited | Austin News

On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman, a former Marine with a hidden brain tumor, climbed the UT Tower and opened fire for 96 minutes, killing 16—including an unborn child—and wounding 31. Earlier that day, he’d murdered his wife and mother. Armed and disguised, he turned campus into chaos as students fled and heroes rushed toward danger. After police killed him, the tumor’s role in his rampage sparked debate. In 2016, a memorial in the Tower Garden honored all victims, including his own family, as a haunting tribute to a day that shattered lives. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/051c0ac86c9efc47