On May 21, 1998, a tragic school shooting at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, claimed the life of 17-year-old male student Mikael Nickolauson. The perpetrator was a 15-year-old expelled student named Kip Kinkel, who had murdered his parents the previous day before carrying out the attack at the school.
The day before the shooting, Kinkel was suspended from Thurston High School for being in possession of a loaded, stolen handgun.
After being released into his father's custody, he went home and fatally shot both of his parents. The following morning, Kinkel drove to the high school armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a pistol, and two knives. He entered the school's patio area and opened fire, wounding two students, one of whom, Ben Walker, would later die from his injuries.
Kinkel then proceeded to the crowded cafeteria, where he continued his assault, firing dozens of rounds. It was here that Mikael Nickolauson was fatally wounded. In total, two students were killed and 25 others were injured in the rampage. The shooting ended when several students bravely tackled and subdued Kinkel, holding him until police arrived.
Kip Kinkel was arrested at the scene. He later pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and 26 counts of attempted murder. In November 1999, he was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
