April 15th Is Historically A Week Full Of American Tragedies
The week of April 15th has seen its fair share of tragedies in the United States, and with the Boston Marathon bombing, we’re reminded of them all.
April 15th, 1865 – The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the back of the head on April 15th, 1865 at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. by John Wilkes Booth. President Lincoln was the first U.S. President to be assassinated.
April 15th, 1912 – The Sinking of the Titanic
The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on 101 years to the day before the Boston Marathon bombing. The ship that was thought to be unsinkable did indeed sink after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage form Southampton, UK to New York City. 1,514 of the 2,224 passengers on the ship perished.
April 16th, 2007 – Virginia Tech Massacre
Virginia Tech senior Seung-Hui Cho entered the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia and opened fire on students with handguns, killing 32 and injuring 17 in the most deadly school shooting in the history of the United States.
April 19th, 1993 – The Waco Siege
After nearly two months of a standoff after attempting to raid the Mount Carmel Center ranch near Waco, Texas, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) executed an assault on the ranch, firing tear gas into the building. Soon, a fire started, and a series explosives ignited, leaving at least 74 people dead, including 25 children.
April 19th, 1995 – The Oklahoma City Bombing
Two years to the day of the Waco Siege, Timothy McVeigh set off a series of explosives in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 and injuring over 800 people. This remains the most deadly domestic terrorist attack in United States history.
April 20th, 1999 – The Columbine High School Shooting
Two teenagers in Littleton, Colorado walked into Columbine High School armed to the teeth and opened fire on classmates and faculty. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and one teacher before taking their own lives, injuring 21 others in the process.
Hopefully this is the last of terror this country is subjected to during this dreadful week. We have enough terrible events to mourn.
Robert Gordon | Elite.
