On a cold day in New Orleans, January 7, 1973, the life of 25-year-old Elizabeth Newton Day Steagall was tragically cut short. She, along with her husband, Dr. Robert Vernon Steagall, Jr., were among the victims of a violent rampage carried out by a lone gunman. The couple was staying at the downtown Howard Johnson's hotel when the deadly attack unfolded.
The perpetrator was identified as Mark Essex, a 23-year-old who harbored deep-seated racial animosity.
His racially motivated attacks began on New Year's Eve of 1972 and culminated in the siege at the Howard Johnson's hotel. Inside his apartment, police would later discover a map of New Orleans with the hotel circled, indicating a premeditated assault. The walls of his residence were covered in militant and anti-police slogans.
On that fateful Sunday, Essex set fires throughout the hotel to lure first responders and hotel guests into his line of sight. From sniper positions on the upper floors and the roof, he opened fire on those below. In total, Essex killed nine people, including five police officers, and wounded twelve others over the course of his attacks.
The siege at the Howard Johnson's hotel ended when law enforcement officers converged on the rooftop where Essex had taken his final stand. In a volley of gunfire, Mark Essex was killed by police, bringing an end to his deadly spree. Because the sole suspect was killed at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Elizabeth Newton Day Steagall and the other victims.
