Clifton McCree Mass Murder – February 9, 1996
Background
Clifton McCree, age 41 (born November 23, 1954), was a former Marine who had worked for approximately 18 years as a beach-cleaning and maintenance crew member in Fort Lauderdale, Florida . He was terminated by the city on December 4 (or December 9), 1994, after failing a drug test and due to complaints of threatening and harassing behavior toward co-workers and the public .
The Rampage
At approximately 5 a.m. on February 9, 1996, McCree stormed into the small trailer office where his former co-workers were gathered—likely for their morning briefing or breakfast—and declared, “All of you ... are going to die.” He was armed with a 9 mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and carried a .32-caliber revolver in a shoulder holster that he never used .
McCree fired at least 13 bullets—some reports say up to 14—into the all-white group sitting around a conference table, killing five and critically wounding a sixth, before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide .
Suicide Note
A suicide note found on McCree’s person stated that he wanted “to punish some of the cowardly, racist devils” who he believed were responsible for firing him, and expressed despair that he could no longer support his family . McCree had reportedly made attempts to regain employment—perhaps even as recently as the day before the shooting—but had failed .
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Account
