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William Kinkel

Case from Springfield, OR dated May 21, 1998

Victim Details

William Kinkel

Male

Springfield

OR

1998-05-21

59

William

Kinkel

07/07/2026

Case Description

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William Kinkel, a 59-year-old male, was killed in his Springfield, Oregon, home on May 20, 1998. His death was the tragic beginning of a violent episode that would soon impact the entire community. On that Wednesday afternoon, William was at his kitchen counter when his 15-year-old son, Kipland Kinkel, shot him in the back of the head with a. 22 caliber rifle. After the shooting, his son dragged his body and covered it with a sheet.

The following day, on May 21, 1998, Kipland drove to Thu ...
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Links to Additional Sources (3)

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  • The Register-Guard: Remembering the victims of the May 1998 Thurston shooting
  • oregonlive: Mass shootings in Oregon: a list
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    Forum Posts (2)

    I recently came across a letter written by one of the student heroes from Thurston High School on a ... ...Read More
    07/19/2024
    Hey everyone,
    I've been reading up on the tragic events of the Thurston High School shooting and ... ...Read More
    04/23/2023
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