Robert Steinhäuser
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| Robert Steinhäuser | |
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| Born | January 22, 1983 |
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| Died | April 26, 2002 (aged 19) Erfurt, Germany |
| Occupation | Student |
Robert Steinhäuser (January 22, 1983 – April 26, 2002) was the 19 year old expelled student who opened fire at the Gutenberg-Gymnasium in Erfurt, Germany in the Erfurt massacre on April 26, 2002. After killing 13 teachers, two pupils and a police officer, he committed suicide.
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[edit] Expulsion
In October, 2001 Steinhäuser was permanently expelled from school. He would miss lessons and forge excuse notes. It is believed the shooting was revenge for being expelled.
[edit] Shooting
On April 26, Steinhäuser dressed in a black ninja-style outfit and went through the classrooms shooting at teachers. He killed 13 teachers and, possibly unintentionally, two students. After police had arrived, he leaned out of a window and shot a policeman in the head, killing him instantly.
Steinhäuser was armed with two firearms:
- 9mm Semi-automatic Glock 17 Pistol
- 12 gauge pump-action shotgun
Steinhäuser had a licence for both guns. He shot about 71 rounds from the pistol in a 20-minute frenzy. The pump-action shotgun, which was strapped to his back during the massacre, was never fired. Press rumours say this was due to a weapon jam he couldn't repair.
In the end a teacher, Rainer Heise, grabbed Steinhäuser by the shirt. Heise recalled in his own words:
- He then pulled off his mask and I said "Robert?" Then I said "Pull the trigger! If you shoot me now, then look into my eyes!" Steinhäuser replied: "That's enough for today, Mr. Heise!"
("Drück ab! Wenn du mich jetzt erschießt, dann guck mir in die Augen!" "Für heute reicht's, Herr Heise!")
Steinhäuser then briefly let down his guard, and Heise pushed him into an empty classroom and locked the door. Steinhäuser shot himself shortly afterwards.
Steinhäuser's words "Für heute reicht's" are also the title of a controversial book about the massacre written by Ines Geipel.
[edit] Clothing
"He was dressed entirely in black" said one witness, another saying he was "like a ghost".
Because he wore a black balaclava that covered his face, conspiracy theorists have claimed that Steinhäuser was used as a scapegoat, much like the theory about Martin Bryant in which one person could not have killed so many people on their own.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
[edit] CNN Articles
- Family of German killer apologises
- Mourning for victims of German school rampage
- "I saw teacher dead in hallway"
- German gun control laws to be tightened
