Wayne Crossley

Mass Murderer

Wayne Crossley and the 1984 Hot Springs Massacre

Overview

Wayne Lee Crossley carried out a deadly shooting rampage in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on July 24, 1984. The violence began during a routine traffic stop near the Garland County Courthouse and continued at the Grand Central Motor Lodge, where Crossley attacked employees and customers inside a lounge known as The Other Place. Four people were killed at the motel, several others were wounded, and Crossley ultimately died by suicide during a police standoff. Crossley was 31 years old and lived in Benton, Arkansas. His sudden attack shocked the Hot Springs community because it appeared to begin without warning. Investigators examined several possible explanations, including Crossley's behavior at the lounge during the week before the massacre, but no single motive was conclusively established.

Weapons Obtained Before the Shooting

Approximately eight days before the massacre, Crossley accompanied a woman named Ruby Swint to Olive's Sporting Goods. They obtained a .45-caliber Colt semiautomatic pistol and a 12-gauge Smith & Wesson pump-action shotgun. Swint completed the required paperwork, while Crossley reportedly paid for the firearms. The weapons were supposedly purchased for Swint's protection. Both firearms were later used during Crossley's rampage. The circumstances of the sale eventually became the subject of civil litigation involving the sporting-goods store and its insurance company.

The Traffic Stop and First Shootout

At approximately 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 1984, Hot Springs Police Sergeant Wayne M. Warwick stopped a vehicle driven by Crossley near Ouachita Avenue, close to the Garland County Courthouse and the Garland County Sheriff's Office. Three passengers were reportedly traveling with Crossley: Jerry C. Wooten, Raymond Wooten, and Carl Langley. What began as an ordinary traffic stop suddenly became a gunfight. Crossley stepped from the vehicle, produced the .45-caliber pistol, and opened fire on Sergeant Warwick. Warwick returned fire while attempting to protect himself and the people nearby. Sergeant Warwick was struck multiple times, suffering serious wounds to areas that included his leg, groin, back, and neck. Crossley was also wounded during the exchange, reportedly in the shoulder or upper torso. Jerry Wooten was struck in the forearm by a stray bullet and survived. Despite his injury, Crossley returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. Instead of seeking medical assistance or surrendering, he drove a short distance to the Grand Central Motor Lodge at 1127 Central Avenue. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Juanita Allen 45 yr old Female

OFFICERS TRACING GUNMAN'S HISTORY - The New York Times