Walter Rossler, a 62-year-old man of unknown ethnicity, was tragically killed on April 3, 1995, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was the owner of the Walter Rossler Co., a refinery inspection firm. On that fateful day, a former employee named James Simpson, aged 28, walked into the company's office and began shooting. Simpson methodically went from office to office, killing Walter Rossler, his wife Joann Rossler , and three other employees: Wendy Gilmore , Richard Tomlinson , and Derek Harrison .
After the shooting spree, Simpson exited the building and shot himself behind the building.
The motive behind the shooting remains unknown to this day. Investigators have not determined why Simpson left the company in September 1994 or why he carried out the attack. The incident was one of the most tragic events in Corpus Christi's history, coming just hours after the funeral of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Perez, who was also murdered earlier that week.
No arrests, suspects, litigations, or investigations beyond the initial police report were conducted, as Simpson took his own life immediately after the shooting. The case was closed with the determination that Simpson acted alone and without a clear motive.
This mass shooting left a lasting impact on the community, and the lack of a definitive motive has continued to haunt those affected by the tragedy.
