10 murders that shocked the world

David Kirubi
12 min readJun 10, 2023

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Violence and hatred have always been a part of human history. Throughout the centuries, there have been countless acts of murder that have shocked and horrified the world. These murders are a reminder of the evil that exists in the world, and they serve as a call to action to fight against violence and hatred.

In this article, we will take a look at 10 murders that shocked the world. These murders are a cross-section of different types of violence, from mass shootings to hate crimes. They are also a reminder of the power of evil, and the importance of fighting for good.

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We begin with the Manson murders, which took place in 1969. Charles Manson and his followers brutally murdered actress Sharon Tate and four other people. The murders were shocking and senseless, and they sent a wave of fear through Los Angeles.

Next, we look at the Zodiac killings, which took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A serial killer known as the Zodiac terrorized San Francisco. The Zodiac taunted the police and the media with letters and ciphers, and he has never been identified.

We then turn to the Jonestown massacre, which took place in 1978. Jim Jones, the leader of a religious cult called Peoples Temple, led more than 900 of his followers to commit mass suicide in Guyana. The massacre was one of the largest mass suicides in history.

These are just three of the many murders that have shocked the world. These murders are a reminder of the evil that exists in the world, and they serve as a call to action to fight against violence and hatred.

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1 The Manson murders: In 1969

In 1969, Charles Manson and his followers brutally murdered actress Sharon Tate and four other people. The murders were shocking and senseless, and they sent a wave of fear through Los Angeles.

On August 9, 1969, Manson and his followers broke into the home of actress Sharon Tate and her husband, Roman Polanski. They stabbed Tate to death, along with her unborn child, and four other people who were visiting the house. The next night, Manson and his followers broke into the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. They stabbed Leno to death and repeatedly stabbed Rosemary. They also wrote messages on the walls in the victims’ blood.

The Manson murders were a chilling reminder of the evil that exists in the world. They also cast a shadow over the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Manson and his followers were hippies, and their crimes were seen by many as a betrayal of the peace and love ideals of the counterculture movement.

Charles Manson was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83.

The Manson murders are still a mystery to many. Why did Manson and his followers commit such horrific crimes? What was their motive? These questions may never be answered. However, the Manson murders remain a dark chapter in American history. They are a reminder of the evil that exists in the world, and they serve as a call to action to fight against violence and hatred.

2 The Zodiac killings:

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, San Francisco was terrorized by a serial killer known as the Zodiac. The Zodiac taunted the police and the media with letters and ciphers, and he has never been identified.

The Zodiac’s first known murder was on December 20, 1968, when he shot and killed a couple in their car in Vallejo, California. He then killed two more people in separate incidents in San Francisco in July 1969. In September 1969, the Zodiac sent a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle claiming responsibility for the four murders and threatening to kill again.

The Zodiac continued to taunt the police and the media with letters and ciphers in the months that followed. He claimed to have killed more people than the four he had been linked to, but there is no evidence to support these claims. The Zodiac’s last known communication was a letter sent to the Chronicle in 1974.

The Zodiac killings remain one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in American history. The case has been featured in numerous books and movies, and it has inspired many copycat killers. The Zodiac’s identity remains a mystery, and his motive for the killings is unknown.

The Zodiac killings were a terrifying time for the people of San Francisco. The killer’s taunting letters and ciphers created a sense of fear and paranoia in the city. The Zodiac’s identity and motive remain a mystery, but his crimes will never be forgotten.

3 The Jonestown massacre: In 1978

On November 18, 1978, Jim Jones, the leader of a religious cult called Peoples Temple, led more than 900 of his followers to commit mass suicide in Guyana. The massacre was one of the largest mass suicides in history.

Jonestown was a settlement in Guyana that was founded by Peoples Temple in 1974. Jones, a charismatic preacher, had promised his followers a utopian community where they could live free from oppression. However, the reality of life in Jonestown was far from utopian. The residents were subjected to forced labor, strict discipline, and psychological manipulation.

In 1978, a group of concerned relatives of Peoples Temple members traveled to Jonestown to investigate. When they arrived, they were met with hostility and refused to leave. Jones then ordered his followers to commit suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. Those who refused were forced to drink the poison or were shot.

In the end, more than 900 people died in the Jonestown massacre, including more than 300 children. It is considered one of the most tragic events in American history.

The Jonestown massacre was a wake-up call about the dangers of religious cults and the importance of protecting vulnerable people from exploitation. It is a reminder that even in the most peaceful of times, there is always the potential for violence and hatred.

4 The Columbine High School massacre: In 1999

On April 20, 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 13 people and injured 24 others before committing suicide. The massacre was one of the deadliest school shootings in American history.

Harris and Klebold were seniors at Columbine High School. They were both members of the Trenchcoat Mafia, a group of students who were known for their dark clothing and their interest in heavy metal music. Harris and Klebold had been planning the massacre for months. They had stockpiled weapons and ammunition, and they had written journals in which they detailed their plans.

On the day of the massacre, Harris and Klebold arrived at Columbine High School early in the morning. They began by setting off bombs in the school cafeteria. The bombs failed to detonate, but they caused a fire that forced students and teachers to evacuate the building. Harris and Klebold then began shooting students and teachers in the hallways and the library.

The massacre ended when Harris and Klebold committed suicide in the school library. The massacre shocked the nation and led to a national conversation about gun violence and school safety.

In the years since the massacre, there have been many changes made to school security. Schools have installed metal detectors and security cameras, and they have implemented lockdown procedures. There has also been a push for more mental health resources in schools.

The Columbine High School massacre was a tragedy that changed the way we think about school safety. It is a reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of mental health.

5 The Virginia Tech shootings: In 2007

On April 16, 2007, a student at Virginia Tech named Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and injured 17 others before committing suicide. The massacre was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in American history.

Cho was a 23-year-old South Korean immigrant who was studying English at Virginia Tech. He was a withdrawn and troubled student who had a history of mental illness. He had been prescribed medication for depression and anxiety, but he had stopped taking it in the months leading up to the shootings.

On the morning of April 16, Cho killed two people in a dorm room. He then went to Norris Hall, a classroom building, and opened fire, killing 30 more people and injuring 17 others. After the shootings, Cho committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

The Virginia Tech shootings were a tragedy that shocked the nation. They raised questions about gun control, mental health, and campus safety. In the wake of the shootings, Virginia Tech implemented new security measures, including increased police presence on campus and more secure entrances to buildings.

The Virginia Tech shootings were a reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of mental health care. They also showed the importance of campus safety and the need for schools to take steps to protect their students.

The Virginia Tech shootings were a terrible tragedy, but they also led to positive changes. The shootings led to increased awareness of mental health issues and the importance of gun control. They also led to changes in campus safety procedures at Virginia Tech and other schools across the country.

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6 The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: In 2012

On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people, including 20 children between six and seven years old, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Lanza also killed his mother before driving to the school. He then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

The shooting was one of the deadliest mass shootings at a school in American history. It shocked the nation and led to renewed calls for gun control. In the years since the shooting, there have been some changes to gun laws, but many people believe that more needs to be done to prevent future tragedies.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a horrific event that claimed the lives of innocent children and adults. It is a reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the need for action to prevent future tragedies.

There is still much work to be done to prevent future tragedies. More needs to be done to address the root causes of gun violence, such as mental illness and poverty. We also need to continue to fight for common-sense gun control laws that will make it more difficult for people to obtain guns who should not have them.

7 The Las Vegas shooting: In 2017

On October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire from a hotel room on a crowd of people attending a music festival in Las Vegas. The shooting killed 58 people and injured more than 500 others. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

The gunman, Stephen Paddock, was a 64-year-old retired accountant from Mesquite, Nevada. He had no criminal record and no known history of mental illness. He acted alone and there was no apparent motive for the shooting.

Paddock fired more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He used a variety of weapons, including assault rifles and handguns. The shooting lasted for more than 10 minutes.

The victims of the shooting came from all over the world. They were young and old, male and female, from different races and religions. They were there to enjoy a music festival, not to be gunned down by a madman.

The Las Vegas shooting was a tragedy that shocked the world. It was a reminder of the evil that exists in the world, and it served as a call to action to fight against violence and hatred.

In the aftermath of the shooting, there was an outpouring of support for the victims and their families. People from all over the world donated money to help the victims, and they offered their prayers and condolences.

The Las Vegas shooting was a dark day for America, but it also showed the best of America. In the face of tragedy, Americans came together to support each other and to show their resilience.

8 The Christchurch mosque shootings: In 2019

On March 15, 2019, a white supremacist gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 people and injuring dozens more. The shootings were livestreamed on Facebook, and the gunman’s manifesto was posted online. In the manifesto, the gunman expressed white supremacist views and called for violence against Muslims.

The shootings were a horrific act of terrorism, and they sent shockwaves around the world. In the wake of the shootings, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the attack and vowed to work to counter extremism. The New Zealand government also announced a number of measures to address Islamophobia, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons and a review of hate speech laws.

The Christchurch mosque shootings were a reminder of the dangers of extremism and the importance of fighting against hatred and discrimination. The shootings also highlighted the importance of social media companies in taking steps to prevent the spread of hate speech and violence.

In the aftermath of the shootings, the Muslim community in Christchurch has shown remarkable resilience. The community has come together to support each other, and they have vowed to rebuild their mosques and continue to live their lives in peace.

The Christchurch mosque shootings were a tragedy, but they also showed the power of love and compassion. The outpouring of support for the Muslim community in Christchurch has been heartwarming, and it is a reminder that there is still good in the world.

9 The Atlanta spa shootings: In 2021

On March 16, 2021, a gunman opened fire at three spas in the Atlanta metropolitan area, killing eight people, six of whom were Asian women. The shootings were motivated by hate, and they sparked a national conversation about anti-Asian violence.

The gunman, Robert Aaron Long, was 21 years old and lived in Woodstock, Georgia. He had a history of mental illness and had been treated for sex addiction. Long told police that he was motivated to commit the shootings by a “sex addiction” and that he believed the spas were “a temptation for him.”

The shootings were met with widespread condemnation from politicians, celebrities, and community leaders. President Joe Biden called the shootings “a horrific act of hate” and said that they were “an attack on the entire Asian American community.”

The shootings also led to calls for increased awareness of anti-Asian violence. In the wake of the shootings, many Asian Americans reported feeling more fearful and vulnerable. There was also an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

The Atlanta spa shootings were a tragedy that highlighted the growing problem of anti-Asian violence in the United States. The shootings also served as a call to action to fight against hate and discrimination.

10 The Buffalo supermarket shooting: In 2022

On May 14, 2022, a gunman opened fire at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The gunman, who was later identified as Payton Gendron, was motivated by white supremacist ideology. He livestreamed the attack on social media, and he left a manifesto that outlined his plans.

Gendron killed 10 people and injured three others. The victims were all Black. The shooting was the deadliest mass shooting in Buffalo history, and it was one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in 2022.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these are just a few of the many murders that have shocked the world. These murders are a reminder of the evil that exists in the world, and they serve as a call to action to fight against violence and hatred.

We must never forget the victims of these murders, or the pain and suffering that their families and friends have endured. We must also never forget the evil that led to these murders, and we must never give up fighting against it.

We can fight against violence and hatred by speaking out against it, by working to create a more just and equitable society, and by supporting organizations that are working to make the world a better place. We can also fight against violence and hatred by simply being kind to one another, by showing compassion for others, and by refusing to let hatred and violence define us.

The evil that led to these murders is real, but so is the good in the world. We must never give up hope, and we must never give up fighting for a better future.

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David Kirubi
David Kirubi

Written by David Kirubi

Meet David, a talented and versatile writer ready to feed your mind and life. With a passion for words and storytelling, i been honing my craft for 12 years.

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