On the day after Christmas in 2000, a chilling act of violence shattered the holiday peace in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Craig W. Wood, a 29-year-old male, was among seven individuals who lost their lives in a horrific workplace shooting. The tragedy unfolded at Edgewater Technology, an internet consulting firm where Wood was employed as a technical recruiter.
The morning of December 26th began like any other post-holiday workday, with employees returning to their routines. However, the ordinary atmosphere was soon irrevocably destroyed. A 42-year-old software engineer and co-worker of the victims, Michael McDermott, unleashed a premeditated and brutal attack. Armed with a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun, McDermott methodically moved through the office, targeting his colleagues. During the rampage, a witness heard Craig Wood plead with the shooter, saying, "Mike, no," followed by sounds of pain and a final plea of "Please" before he was fatally shot multiple times.
The senseless violence that claimed the lives of Wood and six others—Cheryl Troy, Janice Hagerty, Louis Javelle, Jennifer Bragg Capobianco, Paul Marceau, and Rose Manfredi—stemmed from McDermott's anger over a wage garnishment. The company had been ordered by the IRS to deduct back taxes from his paychecks. This financial grievance reportedly fueled his deadly rampage.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement apprehended Michael McDermott at the scene. He was subsequently charged with seven counts of murder. His trial revealed the calculated nature of his actions, and he was found guilty on all counts. McDermott was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life in prison for the devastating loss he inflicted on so many families.
