Colin Ferguson

Mass Murderer

Colin Ferguson and the 1993 Long Island Rail Road Massacre

Overview

On December 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson, a 35-year-old Jamaican immigrant, carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in New York’s history. Armed with a 9mm Ruger P89 handgun, Ferguson boarded a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuter train from Penn Station in Manhattan bound for Hicksville, New York. As the train approached the Merillon Avenue station in Garden City, Ferguson opened fire on unsuspecting passengers, killing six people and wounding nineteen others in a brutal and unprovoked attack.

The Attack

Ferguson entered the train’s third car and sat quietly for most of the trip. Without warning, he stood up, drew his pistol, and began shooting passengers at close range. Witnesses recalled him methodically moving down the aisle, reloading as he fired, targeting people seemingly at random. Passengers were trapped, with many diving under seats for cover. The carnage lasted only minutes, ending when several brave passengers tackled and subdued Ferguson as he attempted to reload yet again.

Victims

Six innocent lives were lost in the massacre, each leaving behind grieving families and communities. The attack also left nineteen others wounded, many with life-altering injuries. The deceased victims were:

• James G. “Jim” Gorycki, 51 – Killed instantly during the shooting.
• Maria Theresa Tumangan Magno, 43 – Fatally shot in the attack.
• Dennis McCarthy, 52 – A father of two, killed while commuting home.
• Richard N. Beddia, 48 – Lost his life during the shooting spree.
• Michael O. Jacobsen, 31 – Fatally struck by Ferguson’s gunfire.
• Amy Federici, 27 – Died from her wounds at the scene.

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Confirmed Victims: (6)

Amy Federici 27 yr old Female

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Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime - Colin Ferguson

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