Gloria Critari, aged 55, tragically lost her life on March 12, 2005, in Brookfield, Wisconsin. She was one of the victims in a mass shooting that occurred during a church service held by the Living Church of God at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel. The shooter, Terry Ratzmann, a 44-year-old computer technician and member of the congregation, opened fire during the service, killing seven people, including Gloria Critari, before taking his own life.
Ratzmann entered the church
service and fired 22 rounds from a 9mm handgun, targeting anyone in his path. The motive behind the shooting was linked to Ratzmann's dissatisfaction with a sermon he had heard two weeks prior, as well as personal issues, including the impending loss of his job. The victims included the church's minister, Randy Gregory, and his teenage son, James Gregory, among others.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that Ratzmann had no prior criminal record and was not known to have threatened anyone before the incident. He was described as a quiet individual who shared his homegrown vegetables with neighbors and was passionate about gardening. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, Ratzmann suffered from bouts of depression and had a history of health issues, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and a congenital heart abnormality.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the police focused on religious issues as a potential motive, given Ratzmann's anger over the sermon and his affiliation with the Living Church of God. The incident drew national attention to the teachings and legacy of the church's leader, Roderick C. Meredith, and the broader context of religious hate crimes.
No arrests were made in connection with the shooting, as the perpetrator, Terry Ratzmann, had taken his own life at the scene. The tragic event left the community in mourning and highlighted the devastating impact of mental health issues and religious intolerance.
