2005 Living Church of God shooting

Perpetrator

Terry Michael Ratzmann (April 29, 1960 - March 12, 2005) lived with his mother and sister. He had Hashimoto's thyroiditis (a chronic autoimmune disease) and a bicuspid aortic valve (a mild congenital heart abnormality), and was missing part of three fingers on his left hand as the result of a much earlier injury. He was a computer technician with a placement firm, and his contract was ending.

Ratzmann was known to suffer from bouts of depression, and was reportedly infuriated by a sermon the minister had given two weeks earlier.

Shooting

The Living Church of God congregation was gathered at a Sheraton hotel building. Ratzmann entered 20 minutes after the 12:30 service began, carrying a 9mm Beretta handgun, and fired 22 rounds into the congregation over the course of a minute, killing the minister and six others, including the minister's son. Four others, including the minister's wife, were wounded and hospitalized, with her being critically injured. Ratzmann emptied a 13 round magazine before reloading, then fired more shots before he shot and killed himself, leaving 4 rounds left in the second of the three magazines he had brought with him.

Victims

• Pastor Randy Lynn Gregory, 51
• James Isaac Gregory, 16
• Harold Leroy Diekmeier, 74
• Gloria Sue Critari, 55
• Bart Jameson Oliver, 15
• Richard Wayne Reeves, 58
• Gerald Anthony Miller, 44

Aftermath

Police searched the home that Ratzmann shared with his mother and sister and recovered .22 caliber ammunition and three computers from the home.

The incident focused national attention on the teachings and legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong, the Worldwide Church of God and LCG's leader Roderick C. Meredith, and the police investigated religious issues as a potential motive for the shooting. As the investigation continued, police confirmed that they were "increasingly focused on religion as the motive" for the shooting, additionally stating that the pastor's family seemed to have been targeted. Voice of America determined that the attack was one of five house of worship shootings in the United States that were motivated by religious hate.

References

References

1. Shahid, Sharon. "VOA Special Report {{!}} History of mass shooters".
2. "Terry Michael Ratzmann - Ancestry®".
3. Staff, KOLLIN KOSMICKI-GM Today. (2006-03-09). "A trail of blood, tears and questions".
4. (March 13, 2005). "Gunman Kills 7 in Church Group Near Milwaukee". [[The New York Times]].
5. "Medical examiner releases autopsy findings". The Journal: News of the Churches of God.
6. Wilgoren, Jodi. (March 13, 2005). "Police Search for Answers in Wisconsin Shooting". [[The New York Times]].
7. Wilgoren, Jodi. (March 14, 2005). "After Shootings in Wisconsin, a Community Asks 'Why?'". [[The New York Times]].
8. Wilgoren, Jodi. (March 15, 2005). "Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings". [[The New York Times]].
9. (2005-03-14). "Church, Police Probe 7 Murders - CBS News".
10. Times, JODI WILGOREN New York. "Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings".
11. "Officials end investigation of deadly church shooting".
12. (2005-03-12). "Relatives struggle for answers after shooting".
13. (2005-03-12). "Job, Sermon Upset Church Gunman - CBS News".
14. (2005-03-18). "Ratzmann's friend recalls troubled man, horrible day".
15. (2005-03-14). "Hotel gunman who killed 7 upset about sermon, losing job".
16. York, James Bone in New. (2005-03-14). "Member of pacifist church shoots 11 at service".
17. Dorfman, Dan. (March 13, 2005). "Gunman Kills 7 in Wisconsin Church Group". [[The New York Times]].
18. Juliet Williams and Ryan Nakashima. "Wisconsin gunman described as being angry over sermon".
19. Banerjee, Neela. (March 18, 2005). "Rampage Puts Spotlight on a Church Community". [[The New York Times]].
20. Wilgoren, Jodi. (2005-03-15). "Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings". The New York Times.