James Swann

Serial Killer

James Edward Swann Jr.: The Shotgun Stalker

Overview

James Edward Swann Jr., known as "The Shotgun Stalker," terrorized Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods over a two-month period in 1993. His series of random drive-by shootings resulted in four deaths and five injuries across 14 attacks. Swann's actions instilled fear and uncertainty among residents, as his victims varied in age, gender, and ethnicity, with no discernible pattern.

Background

Born in 1964 in Iselin, New Jersey, Swann exhibited signs of mental illness from an early age, including talking to himself and sudden bouts of laughter without apparent reason. As an adult, he found periodic employment as a security guard but was dismissed after exhibiting unusual behavior, such as insisting on walking backward while on duty. In early 1993, Swann began experiencing auditory hallucinations, including voices he attributed to the spirit of Malcolm X, commanding him to kill residents of Northwest Washington, D.C., whom he believed were responsible for the civil rights leader's assassination in 1965.

The Crime Spree

Swann's attacks followed a consistent modus operandi: he would drive his blue Toyota through targeted neighborhoods, slow down upon spotting a pedestrian, and fire a 20-gauge shotgun before fleeing the scene. The shootings occurred primarily at night within a ten-block radius in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Julius Bryant Age: (58), Date of Death: 1993-02-26

    ...View 3 additional victims

James Swann - Wikipedia

    ...View 18 additional sources