Gang Lu

Mass Murderer

Gang Lu and the 1991 University of Iowa Massacre

Background

Gang Lu was a 28-year-old physicist and former graduate student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Born in China in 1963, Lu studied physics at Peking University before qualifying for graduate study in the United States. He entered the University of Iowa's highly specialized physics and astronomy program, where his research concentrated on theoretical space plasma physics. Lu completed his doctoral degree in May 1991. His dissertation, titled "Study of the Critical Ionization Velocity Effect by Particle-in-Cell Simulation," was supervised by Professor Christoph K. Goertz. Despite earning his doctorate, Lu reportedly became increasingly resentful toward professors, administrators and fellow researcher Linhua Shan. Shan, who had once shared living accommodations with Lu, received the university's D.C. Spriestersbach Dissertation Prize, an honor Lu believed should have gone to him. The prize recognized an outstanding doctoral dissertation and included a monetary award. Lu believed that receiving it could have improved his professional prospects at a time when he was struggling to secure a permanent academic or research position. He filed grievances concerning the selection process but was unsuccessful. Investigators later concluded that his anger over the award, his employment difficulties and his hostility toward specific university personnel contributed to a carefully planned attack.

Planning the Attack

The massacre was not a spontaneous act. Before the shootings, Lu obtained a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition. He also possessed a small .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol, although that weapon was not used during the attack. Lu prepared letters describing his grievances and intentions, directing some of them to news organizations and other recipients. Several people were apparently selected because Lu blamed them for his academic disappointments. His targets included members of his dissertation committee, the chairman of the Physics and Astronomy Department, the researcher who had received the dissertation prize and a university administrator who had handled his complaints. He also reportedly intended to kill University of Iowa President Hunter Rawlings III, who was away from Iowa City on the day of the attack.

The Shooting at Van Allen Hall

On Friday, November 1, 1991, members of a theoretical space plasma physics research group assembled in Room 309 of Van Allen Hall. At approximately 3:42 p.m., Lu entered or joined the meeting carrying the concealed revolver. Several professors, researchers and students were seated around the conference table when he began firing. Professor Christoph K. Goertz, Lu's former doctoral adviser, was shot at close range. Lu also shot Linhua Shan, the postdoctoral researcher whose dissertation had received the Spriestersbach Prize, and Associate Professor Robert A. Smith, another member of Lu's dissertation committee. Other people in the room escaped or were allowed to leave. Lu then walked from the third floor to the second-floor office of Dwight R. Nicholson, chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Nicholson had also served on Lu's dissertation committee. Lu shot Nicholson inside or near his office, inflicting fatal wounds. After attacking Nicholson, Lu returned to Room 309. Robert Smith had survived the initial gunfire and was receiving assistance from colleagues. Lu forced the people helping Smith to move away and shot Smith again, killing him. He also fired additional rounds at some of the victims already wounded in the conference room. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Theresa Anne Cleary 55 yr old Female

1991 University of Iowa shooting - Wikipedia