In the summer of 1986, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of Edmond, Oklahoma, claiming the life of Thomas Wade Shader Jr. and thirteen of his colleagues. On the morning of August 20, Shader, a 31-year-old man, went to his job at the Edmond Post Office, unaware of the tragedy that was about to unfold. The perpetrator was a part-time letter carrier who had a history of erratic behavior and had been reprimanded by his supervisors.
The gunman entered the post office armed with
three handguns and opened fire on his co-workers. The attack was swift and brutal, leaving a scene of chaos and devastation. Thomas Wade Shader Jr. was among the fourteen individuals who lost their lives in the senseless rampage. The shooter also wounded six other employees before ultimately taking his own life at the scene.
The community of Edmond was left in shock and mourning in the wake of the massacre. The incident was one of the deadliest workplace shootings in United States history at the time and prompted a national conversation about workplace violence and mental health. Investigations into the tragedy revealed a troubled history for the perpetrator, who was reportedly facing the possibility of being fired. There were no arrests to be made as the lone suspect died by suicide at the conclusion of the attack.
