In the summer of 1977, on the night of July 23rd, the lives of several people in Klamath Falls, Oregon, were irrevocably changed by an act of sudden and brutal violence. Among the victims was James L. True, a 25-year-old male who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The tragic events unfolded at a local establishment known as Uncle Albert's Lounge, a place that would become the scene of one of the deadliest mass shootings in Oregon's history.
The evening took a dark turn
when DeWitt Charles Henry, a 26-year-old unemployed truck driver, entered the lounge armed with a semi-automatic rifle. Following a dispute, Henry opened fire, indiscriminately shooting at the patrons and employees within the establishment. In the chaos that ensued, James L. True, along with five other individuals, was fatally wounded. The other victims included Carrol Ann Seater, who was eight months pregnant, her husband Robert David Seater, Andrew Lane Walker, Gary Lee Anderson, and Michael Gene Mortensen. Two other people were also injured in the attack.
The perpetrator, DeWitt Charles Henry, had a troubled history that preceded the massacre. He had previously been convicted of negligent homicide and had a history of drug abuse. On the day of the shooting, his wife had served him with divorce papers, a development that may have contributed to his volatile state. After the shooting, Henry was apprehended by law enforcement.
In the aftermath, DeWitt Charles Henry was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. During his trial, his defense team argued that he suffered from a mental defect. However, the jury ultimately found him guilty on all counts. As Oregon did not have the death penalty at the time, Henry was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences for the lives he had taken. He was subsequently incarcerated and has remained in prison for his crimes.
