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UT Austin Marks 50th Anniversary of Bell Tower Mass Shooting

HeadlineAug 02, 2016

And bells in the tower at the University of Texas at Austin rang at precisely 11:40 a.m. Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of a mass shooting there. On August 1, 1966, UT engineering student and Marine veteran Charles Whitman opened fire from atop the university clock tower. His rampage on campus killed 14 people. Hours earlier, he had also killed his wife and mother, leaving behind a note that read “both dead.” A 17th victim of his shooting rampage died decades later as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. At the time, the UT Austin massacre was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. This year is the first time the university has officially marked the date. This comes as, also on Monday, a new concealed carry law went into effect in Texas, allowing license holders to legally carry guns on campus and inside university buildings for the first time.

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