One of the Deadliest Shootings in US History

In a country where mass shootings have sadly become the norm, the 1991 Luby’s^® Cafeteria massacre in Killeen, Texas, remains one of the deadliest shootings in modern United States history. Let’s take a look at eight frequently asked questions about this 12-minute tragedy.

1. What exactly happened at the Luby’s shooting?

On Oct. 16, 1991, a man named George Hennard drove a blue 1987 Ford Ranger pickup through the front window of a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas. It was Boss’s Day, so the restaurant was especially crowded at lunchtime, with about 150 people present. Using two semi-automatic pistols, Hennard fired on the cafeteria patrons and staff, killing 23 and wounding 27. The dead ranged in age from 29 to 75.

2. Where is Killeen?

Killeen is a central Texas city located in Bell County, with approximately 150,000 residents as of a 2020 census. It is located just west of the cities of Belton and Temple, and it’s home to Fort Cavazos, a huge U.S. Army base formerly known as Fort Hood.

3. Who was George Hennard?

Born on Oct. 15, 1956, to a surgeon and a homemaker, George Hennard was a
35-year-old unemployed former merchant seaman at the time of the shooting. Previously he had served in the U.S. Navy for three years, but the Navy honorably discharged him. He had a history of problematic behavior, including drug use and stalking two sisters who lived in his neighborhood.

4. Who was the first victim?

At 12:39 p.m., Hennard drove his truck through the Luby’s plate-glass window, smashing into the packed restaurant at lunchtime. One minute later, a local veterinarian named Michael Griffith ran to help the driver, presumably believing the crash had been accidental. Hennard answered by firing the first round from inside his truck, killing Griffith.

5. What did Hennard yell as he exited his truck?

At 12:41 p.m., Hennard went on a verbal rampage. According to eyewitnesses, he exited the vehicle yelling misogynistic statements such as, “All women of Killeen and Belton are vipers,” “This is what you’ve done to me and my family,” and “This is what Bell County did to me … this is payback day!”

6. How did Hennard choose his victims?

After gunning down Griffith, Hennard opened fire on the remaining restaurant occupants, using two semi-automatic pistols (a Glock 17 and a Ruger P89). Over the next 10 horrifying minutes, he sprayed bullets around the cafeteria, particularly targeting women. He even taunted one woman with a crying baby, telling her she could leave and then promptly changed his mind.

7. Did anyone escape?

Despite all the chaos, many of those present during the massacre either found a way to escape without harm or just got lucky. In one notable incident, 28-year-old Tommy Vaughan created an escape route for a group of people by throwing himself through a window.

8. How did the Luby’s massacre end?

At 12:44 p.m. - just a few minutes after the shooting began - police arrived at the scene and engaged in a brief shootout with Hennard, seriously wounding him in the process. By 12:51 p.m. police had cornered Hennard. He used his last bullet to shoot himself in the head, ending the ordeal for good.

The entire massacre lasted approximately 12 minutes.

When it happened, the 1991 Luby’s shooting instantly became the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history - until the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. Although investigators never fully established Hennard’s motive for murdering so many innocent people, it was widely believed that his intense hatred toward women played a part in this tragic day.

References: Luby’s shooting | Looking back: Luby’s 1991 mass shooting 2nd worst in Texas history | A gunman killed 23 people at a Luby’s in Killeen 30 years ago. It changed Texas forever. | 30 years later: Mass shooting trend lasts long after Luby’s massacre