In the autumn of 1991, a tragedy unfolded on the University of Iowa campus that left an indelible mark on the community. On November 1st, a former graduate student, Gang Lu, embarked on a shooting rampage that would claim the lives of five individuals and injure another. Among the victims was Theresa Anne Cleary, a respected 56-year-old White female who served as the university's Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The day began like any other, but turned horrific when Lu,
disgruntled over his dissertation not being nominated for a prestigious award, targeted those he held responsible. After shooting several individuals in Van Allen Hall, Lu walked to Jessup Hall, the location of the Office of Academic Affairs. There, he entered Dr. Cleary's office and shot her. Cleary had been involved in handling the grievances Lu had filed concerning the award.
Dr. Cleary was critically wounded in the attack and was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injuries the following day, on November 2, 1991. Another individual in her office, a student employee named Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, was also shot and was left paralyzed from the neck down.
The perpetrator of this senseless act of violence, Gang Lu, was found in a classroom in Jessup Hall with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His actions stemmed from a deep-seated anger and frustration over what he perceived as unfair treatment within the academic system. Having killed four others before taking his own life, Lu left a trail of devastation and a community in mourning. There were no arrests to be made as the suspect had committed suicide, bringing a grim end to the tragic events of that day.
