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Ratzmann had left the ] building 20 minutes earlier. He then returned carrying a ] and fired 22 rounds into the ] congregation, killing the ] and six others, including the minister's son. Four others, including the minister's wife, were wounded, one critically. Ratzmann shot and killed himself midway through the second of the three ] he had brought with him.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} Ratzmann had left the ] building 20 minutes earlier. He then returned carrying a ] and fired 22 rounds into the ] congregation, killing the ] and six others, including the minister's son. Four others, including the minister's wife, were wounded, one critically. Ratzmann shot and killed himself midway through the second of the three ] he had brought with him.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}


The incident focused national attention on the teachings and legacy of ], the ] and LCG's leader ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Banerjee|first=Neela|title=Rampage Puts Spotlight on a Church Community|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/18/national/18church.html |work=] |date=March 18, 2005|accessdate=January 24, 2012}}</ref> and the police investigated religious issues as potential motives for the shooting, though no official conclusion has been reached.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motive Still Unclear in Milwaukee Church Shooting|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/national/03rampage.html|agency=Associated Press |work=] |date=August 3, 2005|accessdate=January 24, 2012}}</ref> The Voice of America House of Worship Shooting Database concluded that Ratzmann was motivated by anti-Christian sentiment.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shahid |first=Sharon |title=VOA Special Report {{!}} History of mass shooters {{!}} House of Worship shootings |url=https://projects.voanews.com/mass-shootings/english/locations/worship.html |access-date=September 5, 2024 |website=projects.voanews.com |language=en}}</ref>{{not in citation given |date=January 2025 |reason=The cited source barely mentions this shooting and does not call it an anti-Christian hate crime. It just mentions it once as an example of a mass shooting at a house of worship. If he was a member of the church and it was a Christian church, how could he be considered anti-Christian?}} The incident focused national attention on the teachings and legacy of ], the ] and LCG's leader ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Banerjee|first=Neela|title=Rampage Puts Spotlight on a Church Community|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/18/national/18church.html |work=] |date=March 18, 2005|accessdate=January 24, 2012}}</ref> and the police investigated religious issues as potential motives for the shooting, though no official conclusion was reached.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motive Still Unclear in Milwaukee Church Shooting|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/national/03rampage.html|agency=Associated Press |work=] |date=August 3, 2005|accessdate=January 24, 2012}}</ref>


=== Victims === === Victims ===

Revision as of 20:05, 6 January 2025

American mass murderer
A request that this article title be changed to 2005 Living Church of God shooting is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.

Terry Ratzmann
BornTerry Michael Ratzmann
April 29, 1960
New Berlin, Wisconsin
DiedMarch 12, 2005 (aged 44)
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Cause of deathSuicide
OccupationComputer technician
MotiveAnti-Christian sentiment
Details
DateMarch 12, 2005
Location(s)Brookfield, Wisconsin
Target(s)Congregants of Living Church of God
Killed8 (including himself)
Injured4
WeaponsBeretta 92FS (9mm)

Terry Michael Ratzmann (April 29, 1960 – March 12, 2005) was an American mass murderer who killed seven members of his church congregation at the Living Church of God (LCG) in 2005, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, before committing suicide.

Background

Previously living with his mother and sister, Ratzmann was known as an avid gardener who often shared his homegrown produce with the church congregation and had a passion for carnivorous plants. Ratzmann had Hashimoto's thyroiditis and a mild congenital heart abnormality. He 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

Ratzmann had left the Sheraton Hotel building 20 minutes earlier. He then returned carrying a 9mm Beretta handgun and fired 22 rounds into the Living Church of God congregation, killing the minister and six others, including the minister's son. Four others, including the minister's wife, were wounded, one critically. Ratzmann shot and killed himself midway through the second of the three magazines he had brought with him.

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 potential motives for the shooting, though no official conclusion was reached.

Victims

  • Pastor Randy Gregory, 50
  • James Gregory, 16
  • Harold Diekmeier, 72
  • Gloria Critari, 55
  • Bart Oliver, 15
  • Richard Reeves, 58
  • Gerald Miller, 44

Aftermath

During the police search of the house that Ratzmann shared with his mother and sister, a .22 rifle, ammunition and three computers were taken away.

See also

References

  1. "RATZMANN, HELEN thru RATZOW, WILLIAM". sortedbyname.com. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. Dorfman, Dan (March 13, 2005). "8 are shot at church gathering". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  3. Ratzmann, Terry. "Carnivorous Plants!". RavenWood Farms Home Page (Ratzmann's personal website). Archived from the original on August 30, 2004. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  4. ^ "Medical examiner releases autopsy findings". The Journal: News of the Churches of God. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  5. Wilgoren, Jodi (March 13, 2005). "Police Search for Answers in Wisconsin Shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  6. Wilgoren, Jodi (March 14, 2005). "After Shootings in Wisconsin, a Community Asks 'Why?'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  7. Wilgoren, Jodi (March 15, 2005). "Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  8. Banerjee, Neela (March 18, 2005). "Rampage Puts Spotlight on a Church Community". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  9. "Motive Still Unclear in Milwaukee Church Shooting". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 3, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  10. Dorfman, Dan (March 13, 2005). "Gunman Kills 7 in Wisconsin Church Group". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
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