Monash University shooting

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Monash University shooting

| image = Monash University Menzies Building.jpg

| caption = Exterior of Menzies Building, site of the shooting

| location = Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

| coordinates = {{coord|-37.9127|145.1326|display=inline,title}}

| date = {{start date and age|21 October 2002}}

| time = 11:24 a.m.

| timezone = UTC+10

| type = Mass shooting, school shooting

| fatalities = 2

| injuries = 5

| perps =

| perp = Huan Yun "Allen" Xiang

| weapons = * CZ-75 9mm handgun

Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum 6-shot revolver (unused)
Smith & Wesson .38-caliber 5-shot revolver (unused)
Beretta 89 .22-caliber handgun (unused)
Beretta Tomcat .32-caliber handgun (unused)
Taurus .32-caliber handgun (unused)

| motive = Delusions of persecution by victim

}}

The Monash University shooting occurred on 21 October 2002, when a 36-year-old international student killed students William Wu and Steven Chan, both 26, and injured five others during a mass shooting at Monash University in Melbourne. The gunman, Huan Yun Xiang, was acquitted of murder charges stemming from the shootings due to mental impairment, and is currently under psychiatric care. Several of the people present in the room of the shootings were officially commended for their bravery in tackling Xiang and ending the shooting.

Shooting

At 11:24 a.m. on 21 October 2002, Huan Yun "Allen" Xiang{{cite news|last=Berry|first=Jamie|title=How a shooting spree changed the nation's gun laws|publisher=The Age|date=12 September 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/11/1063268520184.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} (向环云 Xiàng Huányún),"[http://www.myactimes.com/actimes/plus/view.php?aid=989573 华裔在墨内北刺伤医生引恐慌曾射杀2同学]." ChinaNet Australia, My Act Times. 21 October 2015. Retrieved on 23 February 2016. a fourth-year commerce student at the university,{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Padraic|author2=Misha Ketchell|author3=Andrew Heasley|title=Two die as gunman attacks his own class|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=22 October 2002|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/21/1034561446759.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} entered room E 659 of the Menzies Building on Monash's Clayton campus{{cite news|last=Rood|first=David|title=Reluctant heroes draw positives from pain|newspaper=The Age|date=21 October 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/20/1066631353598.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} in an econometrics class containing twelve students.{{cite news|last=Berry|first=Jamie|title=Student believed Monash killings were 'his destiny'|newspaper=The Age|date=12 September 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/11/1063268520181.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} Xiang climbed onto a desk and opened fire with a handgun from a standing position. People in the classroom were initially confused by the noise and by Xiang screaming "You never understand me!".

Xiang killed two students in the room:{{cite news|last=Crabb|first=Annabel|title=PM flags tougher gun laws|newspaper=The Age|date=23 October 2002|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561495101.html|accessdate=19 April 2007}}{{Cite web |date=2012-10-17 |title=Tenth anniversary of the campus tragedy of 2002 |url=https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/tenth-anniversary-of-the-campus-tragedy-of-2002 |access-date= |website=Monash University |language=en}}

Xu Hui "William" Wu, an international student from Hong Kong and neighbour of Xiang's in Melbourne; and
Yat Ming "Steven" Chan, a student from Doncaster.

Xiang wounded five others:{{cite news|last=Ketchell|first=Misha|title=Shooting victims awarded degrees|newspaper=The Age|date=26 October 2002|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/25/1035504882975.html|accessdate=18 April 2007 }}

{{Cite web |date=22 October 2002 |title=Man held over uni killings |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/man-held-over-uni-killings-20021022-gduprd.html |website=The Age}}

lecturer Lee Gordon-Brown, who was shot in the arm and knee;
student Daniel Urbach, who was wounded in the shoulder and arm;
student Laurie Brown, who was wounded in the leg and abdomen;
student Christine Young, who was shot in the face; and
student Leigh Dat Huynh, who was shot in the leg and discharged from hospital within a day.

When Xiang stopped shooting and moved to switch weapons, Lee Gordon-Brown, the injured lecturer, grabbed Xiang's hands as he reached into his jacket. Gordon-Brown and a student in the room, Alastair Boast, tackled him.{{cite press release|title=Gallant Australian academic wins highest Commonwealth bravery award|publisher=The Royal Humane Society of Australasia|date=6 July 2006|url=http://www.rhsa.org.au/clark_medal.html|accessdate=18 April 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927140742/http://www.rhsa.org.au/clark_medal.html|archivedate=27 September 2007}} Bradley Thompson later entered the room and discovered five guns in holsters around Xiang's waist, including two Berettas, a Taurus, and two revolvers, as well as two magazines from near his hip.

Gordon-Brown and Boast were assisted by a passing lecturer from a nearby room, Brett Inder, to restrain Xiang for thirty minutes until police arrived, while Thompson and university administrator Colin Thornby, provided first aid. They both received Red Cross "Community Hero" awards for their assistance.{{cite news |last=Australian Associated Press |author-link=Australian Associated Press |date=14 June 2004 |title=Killer sent to psych hospital |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245033577.html |accessdate=18 April 2007 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite news|last1=Milovanovic |first1=Selma |last2=Guerrera |first2=Orietta |title=Man accused of uni deaths remanded in custody |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 October 2002 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561495354.html |accessdate=18 April 2007}}{{cite web|last=Tozer|first=Kate|title=Students at Monash University remember the heroes|publisher=PM, ABC|date=22 October 2002|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s708056.htm|accessdate=18 April 2007}} At least one injured student reportedly left the room and sought help for his injuries from security staff.{{cite news|title=Two shot dead, five wounded at Monash Uni|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 October 2002|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/21/1034561430158.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}}

Xiang was deemed by police to be unfit for interview but wrote a note referring to William Wu after his arrest saying "I finally ended WW's life."

All classes in the Menzies Building were cancelled for the rest of the day and the university set up counselling stations.

Trial and post-trial

Xiang pleaded not guilty before his trial to two counts of murder and five of attempted murder on account of mental impairment.{{cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|title=Monash murder accused 'mentally impaired'|newspaper=The Age|date=15 June 2004|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/15/1087244911610.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} A Cantonese interpreter was required during the proceedings.{{Cite web |date=2002-10-22 |title=Student in court charged with uni murders |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/student-in-court-charged-with-uni-murders-20021022-gdfqyh.html |access-date= |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=22 October 2002 |title=Man in court over Australian campus shooting |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/man-in-court-over-australian-campus-shooting-95801 |website=IOL}}

During his two-day trial in June 2004,{{cite news|last=Topsfield|first=Jewel|title=Monash gunman not guilty|newspaper=The Age|date=18 June 2004|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245037927.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} prosecutor Sue Pullen presented evidence that Xiang felt the killings were his destiny. Evidence showed that Xiang had joined the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia in April 2002, and gained a handgun licence in June 2002. One lecturer, Gael M. Martin, told the court that she had expressed concerns about his mental state a week prior to the shootings. Evidence was offered that he harboured delusional beliefs that William Wu was an "agent of evil" and would "destroy him academically", and that his actions on 21 October 2002 focused on fulfilling a perceived destiny to kill Wu.

The defence and prosecution in Xiang's trial agreed that he suffered from a paranoid delusional disorder. The prosecution asked the jury to find him not guilty. On 17 June 2004 the Victorian Supreme Court jury found him not guilty of the murder of Wu and Chan and of the attempted murder of five other people in the tutorial room due to mental impairment. Justice Bernard Teague ordered Xiang be transferred to the Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital. He may be held there for as long as 25 years.

On 20 October 2015, while being treated, Xiang used a knife to attack a female consultant psychiatrist at Thomas Embling Hospital, where he had been incarcerated.{{cite web|last=Toscano|first=Nick|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/monash-university-gunman-huan-yun-xiang-suspected-of-stabbing-hospital-doctor-20151021-gkef5v.html|title=Monash University gunman Huan Yun Xiang suspected of stabbing hospital doctor|publisher=The Age|date=21 October 2015|accessdate=17 January 2017}} He was sentenced to an additional 7 ¹⁄₂ years in psychiatric custody in December 2016.{{Cite news |date=2016-12-14 |title=Monash Uni shooter sentenced for stabbing doctor at psychiatric hospital |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-15/man-who-shot-uni-students-sentenced-over-doctor-stabbing/8122986 |access-date= |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

Responses

=Memorials=

On 22 October 2002, the day after the shooting, flags on Clayton campus flew at half mast, and a graffiti artist wrote "Life is short. Cherish your friends. Love one another. R.I.P." on a campus billboard.{{cite news|last=Guerrera|first=Orietta|title=A sombre uni gets on with life|newspaper=The Age|date=23 October 2002|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561495107.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}} On the first anniversary of the shootings, 21 October 2003, a day of reflection was held on Clayton campus. There is now a memorial (behind the campus's Matheson Library) to the victims.

William Wu and Steven Chan were posthumously awarded honours degrees by Monash University.

=Media=

Early media coverage focussed on Xiang's limited English skills and resulting difficulties communicating as possible contributing factors to his decisions.

{{cite news

|last=Murphy

|first=Padraic

|author2=Steve Butcher

|title=Talented loner who struggled in class

|publisher=The Age

|date=22 October 2002

|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561449610.html

|accessdate=18 April 2007 }}

{{cite news

|last=Rees

|first=Margaret

|title=Two students killed in Australian university shooting

|publisher=World Socialist Web Site

|date=29 October 2002

|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/oct2002/mon-o29.shtml

|accessdate=18 April 2007 }}

There was also editorial coverage arguing both for and against additional legal restrictions on handguns being introduced in Australia.

{{cite news

|last=Whitley

|first=John

|title=Let everyone have a gun

|publisher=The Age

|date=31 October 2002

|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/30/1035683473411.html

|accessdate=19 April 2007 }}

{{cite news

|last=Costello

|first=Tim

|author-link=Tim Costello

|title=Firearms: the repeating menace

|publisher=The Age

|date=24 October 2002

|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/23/1034561548267.html

|accessdate=19 April 2007 }}

Shooting massacres in Australia and other English-speaking countries often occurred close together in time. Forensic psychiatrists attribute this to copycat behaviour,Mullen, Paul quoted in Hannon K 1997, "Copycats to Blame for Massacres Says Expert", Courier Mail, 4/3/1997.Cantor, Mullen and Alpers, 2000 Mass homicide: the civil massacre. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 28:1:55-63. which is in many cases triggered by sensational media treatment.Phillips, D. P. 1980. Airplane accidents, murder, and the mass media: Towards a theory of imitation and suggestion. Social Forces, 58, 1001-1024.Cialdini, Robert 2001. Influence: Science and Practice 4th Ed. Allyn and Bacon, pp. 121-130. Mass murderers study media reports and imitate the actions and equipment that are sensationalised in them.Cramer, Clayton E. 1993. [https://www.claytoncramer.com/scholarly/JMME2.htm Ethical Problems of Mass Murder Coverage in the Mass Media]. Journal of Mass Media Ethics 9. The Monash shooting occurred at the height of publicity for the Beltway sniper attacks, which was extremely prominent from 3 October to the arrest of the perpetrators on 24 October 2002, three days after the Monash shootings.

= Gun ownership laws =

The then Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, initiated another review of Australian gun laws, the last having been after the Port Arthur massacre, after it was discovered that Xiang had acquired his firearms legally.{{cite news|title=Gun laws under scrutiny after Monash shooting|website=ABC News Online|date=23 October 2002|url=http://abc.net.au/news/politics/2002/10/item20021023002157_1.htm|accessdate=18 April 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040912200223/http://www.abc.net.au/news/politics/2002/10/item20021023002157_1.htm|archivedate=12 September 2004}} The Victorian State Government prepared new laws doubling the punishment for misuse of handguns and introducing new laws against trafficking in handguns after the shooting, and all other states followed.

The National Handgun Buyback Act 2003 put new restrictions on maximum calibre, magazine capacity and minimum barrel lengths for handguns held on a Category H sport/target shooting licence.{{cite web|title=Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia: Assent of Acts|url=http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/aoa.php|website=Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia|accessdate=19 April 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829042434/http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/aoa.php|archivedate=29 August 2007}}{{cite news|last=Hudson|first=Phillip|title=Prices set in handgun crackdown|newspaper=The Age|date=30 June 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/29/1056825278337.html|accessdate=19 April 2007}} Victoria began its handgun buyback scheme in August 2003.{{cite news|last=Hudson|first=Phillip|title=Victoria delays gun buyback move|newspaper=The Age|date=1 July 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/30/1056825335239.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}}{{cite news|last=Strong|first=Geoff|title=Day one of the gun buy-back tough for some|newspaper=The Age|date=9 August 2003|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/08/1060145866843.html|accessdate=18 April 2007}}

= Bravery awards =

Lee Gordon-Brown, Alastair Boast, Brett Inder, Bradley Thompson, Andrew Swann and Colin Thornby all received bravery awards for their part in restraining Xiang and helping injured victims.{{cite press release |title=Ambulance service awards honour our community heroes |publisher=State Government Victoria Department of Human Services |date=December 2002 |url=http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/humanservicesnews/dec02/hero.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20030315055323/http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/humanservicesnews/dec02/hero.htm |archive-date=2003-03-15 |accessdate=20 July 2021 |url-status=unfit}}{{cite press release|title=Monash heroes and indigenous lecturers recognised alongside Australia's leading university teachers|publisher=The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP - Media Centre, Department of Education, Science and Training|date=3 December 2002|url=http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/nelson/dec02/n254_031202.htm|accessdate=18 April 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225904/http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/nelson/dec02/n254_031202.htm|archivedate=26 September 2007}} The Royal Humane Society awarded Gordon-Brown the 2005 Stanhope Gold Medal, the highest Commonwealth award for bravery. In addition The Royal Humane Society of Australasia (RHSA) awarded him the 2004 Clarke Gold Medal of the RHSA and he was awarded the Star of Courage, the second highest award for bravery in the Australian honours system. The RHSA awarded Alastair Boast the Gold Medal of the RHSA.{{cite press release|title=Highest Commonwealth bravery award for Monash academic|website=Monash University News|date=16 August 2006|url=http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20060816/bravery-award.html|accessdate=18 April 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829190124/http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20060816/bravery-award.html|archivedate=29 August 2007}}