Dewitt Henry

Mass Murderer

DeWitt Charles Henry and the 1977 Klamath Falls Massacre

Overview

During the early morning hours of July 23, 1977, 26-year-old DeWitt Charles Henry carried out a mass shooting at a nightclub outside Klamath Falls, Oregon. Armed with a Colt AR-15 Sporter .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle, Henry opened fire on people gathered at Uncle Albert's Lounge, an establishment also remembered by local residents as Kitty's Steak Pit. Within a matter of minutes, six young adults had been killed, a pregnant victim's unborn child had also died, and two Oregon State Police troopers had been fired upon. The massacre became one of the deadliest acts of mass murder in Oregon history at that time. The victims ranged in age from 23 to 27 and included a married couple, Carrol and Robert Seater. Carrol Seater was approximately eight months pregnant. The shooting devastated Klamath Falls and the nearby rural community of Bonanza, where several of the victims had attended school.

Henry's Background

DeWitt Henry was born in California and adopted as an infant by Andrea and Dewitt Henry of Bakersfield. By 1977, he was living in the Klamath Falls area. He had worked as a truck driver and had previously been employed as a bouncer at the same establishment he later attacked. At the time of the massacre, he was unemployed. Henry was described as a physically imposing man, standing approximately six feet three inches tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He also had a history of serious personal and behavioral problems. Published accounts reported that he had previously been convicted of negligent homicide, although publicly available descriptions provide few details about that earlier death. Information presented after the massacre indicated that Henry had abused drugs, had been discharged from the United States Navy for health reasons, and had attempted suicide approximately two months before the shooting. His marriage was also collapsing. His wife reportedly served him with divorce papers on July 22, 1977, the day before the killings.

The Argument at the Lounge

Late on July 22 and shortly after midnight on July 23, patrons and employees were gathered at Uncle Albert's Lounge, located on South Sixth Street near Klamath Falls. The establishment was a familiar gathering place rather than a location where anyone expected an eruption of mass violence. According to later recollections, Henry became involved in an argument with a man named Bill Ransom over an unpaid bar bill. The dispute escalated when Ransom struck Henry. Henry left the immediate area, but the confrontation did not end with his departure. James Williamson, who worked as a dishwasher at the establishment, later recalled encountering Henry as the situation developed. Henry warned Williamson to leave, telling him in substance that he had always liked him and that he should get out. Williamson recognized the danger in Henry's manner and left the building. The warning suggested that Henry was preparing to attack the people who remained behind. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Gary Lee Anderson 27 yr old Male

1977 Klamath Falls nightclub shooting