James Edward Pough

Serial Killer

James Edward Pough: The Jacksonville Killer

Overview

James Edward "Pop" Pough was an American killer responsible for twelve deaths in Jacksonville, Florida, between 1971 and 1990. His crimes included the fatal shooting of a close friend, two apparently random street murders, and a mass shooting inside a General Motors Acceptance Corporation office. He also wounded six people before taking his own life. Pough is most accurately described as both a serial killer and a spree killer. His first known murder occurred in 1971, nearly nineteen years before his final attacks. During the last two days of his life, he killed eleven people in a rapidly unfolding series of shootings at several locations around Jacksonville. His final attack on June 18, 1990, was one of the deadliest mass shootings in Florida history at the time. Armed with an M1 carbine and a .38-caliber revolver, Pough entered the office of the company that had handled the repossession of his automobile and began shooting customers and employees without warning.

Early Life and Criminal History

James Edward Pough was born on February 16, 1948, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the oldest of nine children. His father left the family when Pough was young, and Pough reportedly developed a particularly close relationship with his mother. He suffered from asthma as a child and attended vocational school before leaving during his sophomore year. As an adult, he generally worked as a laborer. During the final year of his life, he performed construction and maintenance work at a Jacksonville brewery. Pough had repeated encounters with law enforcement beginning in his teenage years. He was arrested for offenses that included vagrancy, attempted robbery, assault, displaying a knife, gambling and suspected vehicle theft. Although many of these incidents did not result in serious punishment, they revealed a history of impulsive behavior and violence. ...

Confirmed Victims: (12)

David Lee Pender Age: (27), Date of Death: 1971-05-08

Survivors:

Unidentified teenager Age: (17), Date of Attack: June 17, 1990

Unidentified teenager Age: (18), Date of Attack: June 17, 1990

David Hendrix Age: (25), Date of Attack: June 18, 1990

Phyllis Griggs , Date of Attack: June 18, 1990

Ron Echevarria , Date of Attack: June 18, 1990

Nancy Dill , Date of Attack: June 18, 1990

James Edward Pough - Wikipedia