James Buquet

Mass Murderer

James Buquet 1993 Mass Murder at Family Fitness Center

Background

James M. Buquet was a 19-year-old college student from Alpine, California, living near San Diego. He had been suffering from severe depression following knee surgery that prevented him from working out, and he had previously written a disturbing essay in a creative‐writing class shortly before the incident .

Essay Foreshadowing

In the essay for his creative writing class at Grossmont College, Buquet invented a character named "Natas A. Bishop" (Satan spelled backward), who “didn’t feel right at night unless he thought about killing.” The essay chillingly described the character preparing and then using a 12-gauge shotgun in a public setting (a fast-food restaurant), delighting in the victims' fear and violence in graphic, gruesome detail .

The Rampage — October 1993

On Thursday, October 14, 1993 (published reports date October 15 in papers but the attack occurred the previous day), Buquet carried out a mass shooting at the Family Fitness Center in El Cajon, San Diego County: - He purchased a 12-gauge shotgun two days after submitting his essay, on September 24, 1993 . - Around midday, he arrived at the fitness center, a place he had been a member of for approximately three months . - He first shot a man outside the club, then proceeded inside where he opened fire on club patrons . ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Rebecca Negrete 31 yr old Female

    ...View 3 additional victims    ...View 3 additional victims    ...View 3 additional victims

Gunman Had Written A Story About Murder

    ...View 4 additional sources