101 California Street shootings
Encyclopedia
101 California Street Shootings is the name given to a mass shooting that took place July 1, 1993 in San Francisco, California
, claiming the lives of nine people including the shooter. The killings sparked a number of legal and legislative actions that were precursors to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
, H.R.3355, 103rd Congress (1994). The Act took effect in 1994, and expired on September 13, 2004, through the operation of a sunset provision
.
in San Francisco, and made his way to the 34th floor and the offices of the law firm of Pettit and Martin. (Ferri, who had been a client of the firm at least ten years prior to the shootings, nursed a grudge against Pettit & Martin for many years.) Exiting the elevator on the 34th floor, Ferri donned a pair of ear protectors and began to open fire with a pair of TEC-9
handguns and a Chinese-manufactured copy of the Colt .45 or M1911
pistol. After roaming this floor he then moved down one floor through an internal staircase and continued shooting. The attack was continued on several floors before Ferri eventually shot himself fatally as San Francisco Police closed in. Eight people were killed in the attack, and six others injured.
The reason for the shootings was never fully determined, but a letter left behind by Ferri claimed a long list of complaints.
Allen J. Berk, 52, was a partner in Pettit & Martin, and was well respected in the San Francisco legal community. He earned an undergraduate degree from City University
in New York, and received his law degree from George Washington University
. Berk was experienced in labor law, and had represented a number of management groups.
Jack Berman, 36, was a partner with the firm Bronson, Bronson, & McKinnon who was visiting the offices of Pettit & Martin on the day of the shootings. A president of the American Jewish Congress
known for his work specializing in employment law and chairing the firm's pro bono
committee, Berman was born in Moosup
, Connecticut
, in 1957 and graduated from Brown University
with a B.A.
in 1979 before completing his juris doctor
from Boston University School of Law
.
Berman's community work extended beyond the AJC, as he also co-founded TAX-AID, an organization that provides free income tax
preparation, and the San Francisco Transitional Housing Fund, a program to aid homeless individuals in finding housing. In recognition of Berman's service to the legal profession and the Bay Area
populace, the California Young Lawyers' Association gives an annual award in Berman's name.
Donald Merrill, 48, was an employee of the Trust Company of the West, which had offices at 101 California Street. He had worked as an energy industry consultant, working with independent energy projects
Shirley Mooser, 64, was a secretary at the Trust Company of the West, which had offices at 101 California Street.
Deborah Fogel, 33, was a legal secretary for the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine
, which had offices at 101 California Street.
Jody Jones Sposato, 30, was a young mother and a client of Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon. She accompanied Jack Berman to Pettit & Martin for deposition the day of the shootings.
David Sutcliffe, 30, was a law student at the University of Colorado at Boulder
who was interning at Pettit & Martin for the summer.
John Scully, 28, was a lawyer with Pettit & Martin who died, according to news reports, while protecting his wife from the gunman. Interested in labor law, Scully earned his bachelors degree from Gonzaga University
, then received his law degree at the University of San Francisco
.
Injured:
Vicky Smith, 41;
Sharon Jones O'Roke, 35, was in-house counsel at Electronic Data Systems Corporation in Dallas, Texas, and was borrowing one of the firm's conference rooms to take the deposition of Jody Jones Sposato. O'Roke was the first one shot during the attack. Both Sposato and her attorney, Jack Berman, were killed. Deanna Eaves, one of the injured, was a court reporter taking down the testimony of Ms. Sposato.
Michelle Scully, 27;
Brian F. Berger, 39;
Deanna Eaves, 33;
Charles Ross, 42.
California, at the state level, implemented some of the toughest gun laws in the United States. The state also repealed a law that had given gun manufacturers immunity against lawsuits, following an attempt by some relatives of 101 California street victims to sue the companies that made the weapons Ferri used.
A number of organizations were formed in the wake of the shootings, including Legal Community Against Violence
, which acts as a resource for information on federal, state, and local firearms policies. The AJC founded the Jack Berman Advocacy Center to lobby and organize with regard to gun control and violence reduction.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, claiming the lives of nine people including the shooter. The killings sparked a number of legal and legislative actions that were precursors to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, , , was an act of Congress dealing with crime and law enforcement that became law in 1994. It is the largest crime bill in the history of the US at 356 pages and will provide for 100,000 new police officers, $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and...
, H.R.3355, 103rd Congress (1994). The Act took effect in 1994, and expired on September 13, 2004, through the operation of a sunset provision
Sunset provision
In public policy, a sunset provision or clause is a measure within a statute, regulation or other law that provides that the law shall cease to have effect after a specific date, unless further legislative action is taken to extend the law...
.
The shootings
On July 1, 1993, 55-year-old businessman Gian Luigi Ferri (born December 29, 1937) entered an office building at 101 California Street101 California Street
101 California Street is a 48-story office building completed in 1982 in the Financial District of San Francisco, California. The tower providing of office space is bounded by California-, Davis-, Front-, and Pine Streets near Market Street....
in San Francisco, and made his way to the 34th floor and the offices of the law firm of Pettit and Martin. (Ferri, who had been a client of the firm at least ten years prior to the shootings, nursed a grudge against Pettit & Martin for many years.) Exiting the elevator on the 34th floor, Ferri donned a pair of ear protectors and began to open fire with a pair of TEC-9
Intratec TEC-DC9
The Intratec TEC-DC9 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic firearm, chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, and classified by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a handgun. Designed by Intratec, an American offshoot of Interdynamic AB, it is made of inexpensive molded polymers...
handguns and a Chinese-manufactured copy of the Colt .45 or M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
pistol. After roaming this floor he then moved down one floor through an internal staircase and continued shooting. The attack was continued on several floors before Ferri eventually shot himself fatally as San Francisco Police closed in. Eight people were killed in the attack, and six others injured.
The reason for the shootings was never fully determined, but a letter left behind by Ferri claimed a long list of complaints.
The victims
Killed:Allen J. Berk, 52, was a partner in Pettit & Martin, and was well respected in the San Francisco legal community. He earned an undergraduate degree from City University
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
in New York, and received his law degree from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. Berk was experienced in labor law, and had represented a number of management groups.
Jack Berman, 36, was a partner with the firm Bronson, Bronson, & McKinnon who was visiting the offices of Pettit & Martin on the day of the shootings. A president of the American Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
known for his work specializing in employment law and chairing the firm's pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
committee, Berman was born in Moosup
Moosup, Connecticut
Moosup is a village and census-designated place in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 3,237 at the 2000 census.-Pop Culture:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, in 1957 and graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1979 before completing his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
.
Berman's community work extended beyond the AJC, as he also co-founded TAX-AID, an organization that provides free income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
preparation, and the San Francisco Transitional Housing Fund, a program to aid homeless individuals in finding housing. In recognition of Berman's service to the legal profession and the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
populace, the California Young Lawyers' Association gives an annual award in Berman's name.
Donald Merrill, 48, was an employee of the Trust Company of the West, which had offices at 101 California Street. He had worked as an energy industry consultant, working with independent energy projects
Shirley Mooser, 64, was a secretary at the Trust Company of the West, which had offices at 101 California Street.
Deborah Fogel, 33, was a legal secretary for the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national business and litigation law firm representing clients in the United States and in China. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 98th largest in the United States based on attorney headcount. In 2008 , Davis Wright Tremaine ranked No...
, which had offices at 101 California Street.
Jody Jones Sposato, 30, was a young mother and a client of Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon. She accompanied Jack Berman to Pettit & Martin for deposition the day of the shootings.
David Sutcliffe, 30, was a law student at the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
who was interning at Pettit & Martin for the summer.
John Scully, 28, was a lawyer with Pettit & Martin who died, according to news reports, while protecting his wife from the gunman. Interested in labor law, Scully earned his bachelors degree from Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, then received his law degree at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
.
Injured:
Vicky Smith, 41;
Sharon Jones O'Roke, 35, was in-house counsel at Electronic Data Systems Corporation in Dallas, Texas, and was borrowing one of the firm's conference rooms to take the deposition of Jody Jones Sposato. O'Roke was the first one shot during the attack. Both Sposato and her attorney, Jack Berman, were killed. Deanna Eaves, one of the injured, was a court reporter taking down the testimony of Ms. Sposato.
Michelle Scully, 27;
Brian F. Berger, 39;
Deanna Eaves, 33;
Charles Ross, 42.
Reaction
The shootings spurred calls for tighter gun control and were followed by a number of legal and legislative actions.California, at the state level, implemented some of the toughest gun laws in the United States. The state also repealed a law that had given gun manufacturers immunity against lawsuits, following an attempt by some relatives of 101 California street victims to sue the companies that made the weapons Ferri used.
A number of organizations were formed in the wake of the shootings, including Legal Community Against Violence
Legal Community Against Violence
Legal Community Against Violence is a national public interest law center dedicated to preventing gun violence. LCAV provides legal assistance to elected officials, government attorneys and activists across the United States to promote effective, legally defensible laws and policies to reduce gun...
, which acts as a resource for information on federal, state, and local firearms policies. The AJC founded the Jack Berman Advocacy Center to lobby and organize with regard to gun control and violence reduction.
See also
- List of massacres
- Federal assault weapons banFederal assault weapons banThe Federal Assault Weapons Ban was a subtitle of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law in the United States that included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms, so called "assault weapons"...
- Gun politics in the United StatesGun politics in the United StatesGun politics in the United States refers to an ongoing political and social debate regarding both the restriction and availability of firearms within the United States. It has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics...
External links
- j.weekly article about the shootings
- z Publishing aggregation of news articles about the shootings
- Victims of Chance in Deadly Rampage, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(July 7, 1993) - The Broker Who Killed 8: Gunman's Motives a Puzzle, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(July 3, 1993) - Seeking Motive in the Killing of 8: Insane Ramblings Are Little Help, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(July 4, 1993) - Suit Can Proceed Against Maker Of Guns Used in 1993 Killings, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(April 12, 1995) - S.F. gunman's firm failing, Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
(July 3, 1993) - Gunman kills 8 and committs suicide, Kingman Daily MinerKingman Daily MinerKingman Daily Miner is a local newspaper in Kingman, Arizona owed by Western News&Info Inc. It has a 8,030 circulation....
(July 2, 1993) - Murder in Calif.: What price fame?, St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
(July 6, 1993)