Carl Brown

Mass Murderer

Carl Robert Brown and the 1982 Miami Welding Shop Massacre

Background

Carl Robert Brown was a 51-year-old schoolteacher whose long history of emotional instability culminated in one of the deadliest workplace shootings in Florida history. Born on November 26, 1930, Brown lived in Hialeah, Florida, and had worked as a teacher in the Miami-area public school system. By August 1982, however, he had been suspended from teaching and had reportedly undergone psychiatric evaluation and treatment. People who knew him described a man whose behavior had become increasingly erratic, hostile and paranoid. Brown had developed unusual religious and philosophical beliefs and sometimes referred to himself as "Logos," a term he interpreted as a divine force operating through him. After the massacre, investigators reportedly discovered a recording at his home in which he spoke as though he possessed supernatural authority. These statements, together with his previous psychiatric difficulties, suggested that his actions were influenced by serious mental disturbance. Nevertheless, the immediate confrontation that preceded the killings involved an ordinary commercial disagreement over a lawnmower engine.

The Dispute at Bob Moore's Welding Shop

On August 19, 1982, Brown went to Bob Moore's Welding & Machine Service in Miami, Florida. He had brought a lawnmower engine to the business because he intended to use it to power a bicycle. Brown became angry over the quality of the repair work and a bill of approximately $20. His anger intensified when employees refused to accept a traveler's check as payment. During the confrontation, Brown argued with shop personnel and reportedly threatened to return and kill everyone. The threat was not taken as an indication that a massacre was imminent. Brown left the business, but the dispute continued to consume him. Rather than seeking another repair shop or resolving the disagreement through ordinary means, he began preparing for a violent attack.

Purchasing the Weapons

On the morning of August 20, 1982, Brown visited a firearms dealer near his Hialeah home. He purchased several weapons, including two shotguns and a semiautomatic rifle, along with ammunition. The weapon used during the massacre was identified as an Ithaca Model 37 12-gauge pump-action shotgun equipped with a shortened configuration suitable for close-range firing. Brown's purchases were made only hours before the killings. Despite his reported psychiatric history and suspension from teaching, he was able to complete the purchase. Before leaving for the welding shop, Brown allegedly invited his 10-year-old son to accompany him to "kill some people." The child refused. Statements later attributed to Brown indicated that he may have intended to continue to Hialeah Junior High School after attacking the welding business. ...

Confirmed Victims: (8)

Nelson Barrios 46 yr old Male

Carl Robert Brown