On a quiet Saturday, the 12th of March, 2005, a tragic event unfolded in a Sheraton hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin, forever altering the lives of a peaceful church congregation. Inside, members of the Living Church of God were gathered for their weekly service, a time of fellowship and worship. Among them was James Gregory, a 16-year-old male, who attended the service with his family.
The solemnity of the service was shattered when a member of the congregation, 44-year-old Terry Ratzmann, unleashed a sudden and horrific attack.
Ratzmann, who had been a member of the church, entered the room where the service was being held and, without warning, began firing a 9mm handgun into the crowd. The tranquil gathering turned into a scene of chaos and terror as Ratzmann fired 22 rounds, moving methodically through the room. Witnesses reported that he reloaded his weapon at least once during the rampage. His actions left a devastating toll, with seven people losing their lives in the senseless act of violence. Among the victims were James Gregory and his father, Randy Gregory, who was the pastor of the congregation.
The shooting spree ended when Ratzmann turned the gun on himself, taking his own life at the scene. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement and emergency services descended on the hotel, discovering a scene of immense tragedy. Four other members of the congregation were wounded in the attack but survived. The motive for the shooting was pieced together in the subsequent investigation. It was revealed that Ratzmann had been deeply troubled, reportedly angered by a sermon he had heard two weeks prior to the shooting and was also facing the imminent loss of his job. No arrests were made as the sole suspect in the killings was deceased at the scene. The incident left the community of Brookfield and the members of the Living Church of God grappling with an inexplicable loss, a violent interruption of a peaceful Sabbath service that claimed the lives of seven of its members, including a promising young man and his devoted father.
