Robert Hawkins

Overview

Robert A. Hawkins committed suicide by shooting himself after a mass shooting at the Von Maur department store in the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, United States.

Timeline

• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 — Hawkins killed nine people (including himself) and wounded four at the Von Maur department store in the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska.
• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (1:36 p.m. CST; 19:36 UTC) — Hawkins entered the south entrance of the Von Maur department store.
• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (about 1:42 p.m. CST; 19:42 UTC) — The first 911 call was received; during the entire 70 seconds of that first call, the dispatcher heard gunshots.
• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (about 1:43 p.m. CST; 19:43 UTC) — Hawkins stepped out of the elevator on the third floor and opened fire.
• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (about six minutes) — Hawkins killed eight people and wounded four others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head near the customer service desk.
• Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (six minutes after the first 911 call) — Omaha Police arrived at Westroads Mall.
• Thursday after the shooting — The shopping center was closed until at least Thursday; Omaha-area residents described being escorted out by police and hiding in clothing racks, dressing rooms, and bathrooms.
• December 7, 2007 — Audio tapes and transcripts of the 911 calls and images captured by mall security surveillance cameras were released by police.
• December 13, 2007 — Hawkins’ mother issued a formal apology for Hawkins’ actions in an interview on Good Morning America.
• December 22, 2007 — The Omaha Police Department announced that Mandy Hyda, 34, received a bruise when a bullet fragment struck her left leg.
• April 19, 2010 — Ms. Oldham was fired by Von Maur for not being able to meet the requirements of her job due to her injuries sustained in the shooting.

The offence

The Westroads Mall shooting occurred on Wednesday, December 5, 2007, at the Von Maur department store in the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska.

Entry and movements inside the store

About an hour before the rampage, Hawkins’ mother gave the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department his suicide note.

Hawkins entered the south entrance of the Von Maur department store about 1:36 p.m. CST (19:36 UTC). He walked a short distance into the store, paused for a second, then turned around and left. Returning six minutes later through the same entrance, he proceeded directly to the elevator at his immediate right. This time he had a commercial copy of the AKM 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle stolen from his stepfather’s house, along with two 30-round magazines, concealed in a sweatshirt. He took the elevator to the top floor.

Shooting and immediate end

At approximately 1:43 p.m. CST (19:43 UTC), Hawkins stepped out of the elevator on the third floor and opened fire. He killed eight people and wounded four others over the course of six minutes before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head near the customer service desk. He fired more than 30 rounds, striking 12 people.

Six died on the spot, one died before reaching the hospital, and another died 45 minutes after reaching the ER of another hospital.

Victims

Hawkins killed nine people including himself and wounded four. The victims included employees and customers at the Von Maur store.

Killed

1. Gary Scharf, age 48, customer
2. John McDonald, age 65, customer
3. Angie Schuster, age 36, employee
4. Maggie Webb, age 24, employee
5. Janet Jorgensen, age 66, employee
6. Diane Trent, age 53, employee
7. Gary Joy, age 56, employee
8. Beverly Flynn, age 47, employee (Hawkins also died in the shooting.)

Additional victim details appeared in later listings:

• Another listing reported Janet Jorgenson as 67.
• Another listing reported Becky Flynn as 47.

Injured survivors

Four victims survived the shooting:

• Two were critically injured and were store employees.
  • Fred Wilson, 61, manager for the customer service department. He was sent to the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the upper chest. He lost three-quarters of his blood and had no pulse by the time he reached the ER. He was upgraded to stable by the following weekend and later attempted to communicate.
  • Micheale "Mickey" Oldham, 65, customer service employee. She sustained heavy injuries to the abdomen and back, and suffered the worst injuries among the surviving victims.
• Jeff Schaffart, 34, customer. He was treated and released at UNMC for a gunshot wound to the left arm and the pinky finger of his left hand.
• Mandy Hyda, 34, received a bruise when a bullet fragment struck her left leg; she was neither transported nor treated for the injury.

It was initially reported that there were five people injured (not including Hyda), but two of those at the scene who were sent to local hospitals were sent for reasons other than being shot by Hawkins.

Investigation

Police response and evidence released

Omaha Police arrived at Westroads Mall about six minutes after receiving the first 911 call. During the entire 70 seconds of that first call, the dispatcher heard only gunshots.

Audio tapes and transcripts of the 911 calls, along with images captured by mall security surveillance cameras, were released by police on December 7, 2007.

Scene description and official statements

Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren called the shooting "premeditated," and said it "appears to be very random and without provocation." He said surveillance cameras may have captured the shooting and that police would be "here throughout the night" because it was a "very extensive crime scene."

Police stated they believed there was one shooter and one shooter only.

During the shooting, victims were found across and within Von Maur, and some witnesses described escaping and hiding in dressing rooms, clothes racks, offices, and storage areas.

Weapons and items mentioned

Police identified the gunman as Robert A. Hawkins of Nebraska. Police recovered an SKS assault rifle and the suspect’s vehicle (as described in the material).

Other details indicated Hawkins proceeded to the elevator with a commercial copy of an AKM 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle stolen from his stepfather’s house, along with two 30-round magazines concealed in a sweatshirt.

On Wednesday night, police used a bomb robot to access a Jeep Cherokee left in the mall parking lot that authorities believed belonged to Hawkins, and they saw some wires under some clothing; no bomb was found.

Arrest / detention

No arrest is described; Hawkins died at the scene.

Background

Identity and birth details

The perpetrator of the shootings was Robert A. Hawkins, 19 (May 17, 1988 – December 5, 2007).

He was born in the Royal Air Force Lakenheath of Suffolk, England, to American parents Ronald Hawkins and Maribel "Molly" Rodriguez.

Family relationships and living situation

He was estranged from his parents and lived with two friends and their mother in a ranch-style house in the Quail Creek Neighborhood of Bellevue, a suburb 10 miles (16 km) south of Omaha.

Debora Maruca-Kovac, the owner of the house in which Hawkins lived, described him as "troubled" and said he was depressed over being fired from his job at McDonald’s, reportedly for stealing USD$17, and over separating from his girlfriend two weeks prior to the incident.

Maruca Kovac said Hawkins lived with her about a year and a half, and she described him as well-behaved and having "a lot of emotional problems, obviously." She said he told her he could not stay with his own family because of "some issues with his stepmother and him." She also stated that she was unaware Hawkins had any guns, though she said he knew a lot about them, as did his stepfather.

A family friend said Hawkins recently broke up with a girlfriend and got fired; a separate statement said he tried but failed to get into the Army and was kicked out by his family about a year prior. He moved in with a friend’s family, and Maruca-Kovac and her husband welcomed him into their home.

Mental health and psychiatric history

Hawkins attended therapy sessions, took medication, and was hospitalized for depression by the time he was 6 years old.

Throughout most of his life, he and his family were plagued by psychiatric problems. The day after he turned 14, he was sent to a mental health treatment center for threatening to kill his stepmother Candace Hawkins with an axe.

Four months later, he became a ward of the State of Nebraska, lasting nearly four years. He underwent two psychiatric hospitalizations and was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, an unspecified mood disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and parent-child relationship problems.

The extensive treatments cost the state USD$265,000.

Other incidents and legal matters mentioned

School and education

He attended Papillion-La Vista High School and later dropped out during his senior year in March 2006, but received a GED.

Threats and criminal record references

Local news sources stated that he threatened to kill a local teenager because he thought she had stolen his CD player.

He was ticketed on November 24, 2007, for suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two alcohol charges, one of which was underage possession of alcohol. He was due in court for an arraignment on December 19, 2007.

The material stated that he was convicted as a juvenile of a felony drug conviction while in foster care in Omaha.

Suicide note

The suicide note consisted of a note to his family, one to his friends, and his last will and testament, below which he signed his name and included his Social Security number.

A quote included in the material from the note given to the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department stated:

"I just want to take a few peices [ sic ] of shit with me... just think tho [ sic ], I'm gonna be fuckin [ sic ] famous."

The material stated that initial news reports indicated Hawkins wrote in his suicide note, "I'm going out in style;" however, the phrase did not appear on the publicly released document.

Debora Maruca Kovac said he wrote he was sorry for everything and did not want to be a burden on anyone any longer. She told CNN:

"he was a piece of s--- all his life, and now he'll be famous"

Maruca Kovac also said she told CNN:

"He just said he wanted to thank me for everything I'd done for him ... and he was sorry"

and:

"I said, 'Come home and we'll talk about it,' " and: "He said, 'It's too late.' He said he'd left a note explaining everything."

Toxicology

An autopsy showed Hawkins had 200 nanograms per milliliter of Valium in his system, which was described as the low end of its therapeutic-use range (100-1500 ng/mL). No trace of any other drug was found in his system.

Trial / sentencing / appeals

No trial, sentencing, or appeals are described because Hawkins died by suicide following the shootings.

Aftermath

Statements by officials and public response

President Bush visited Omaha Wednesday before the shooting and left about an hour before the shooting.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said:

"His thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families this evening. Having just visited with so many members of the community in Omaha today, the president is confident that they will pull together to comfort one another as they deal with this terrible tragedy."

Omaha mayor Mike Fahey offered condolences:

"There are no words to adequately express our feelings this morning,"

Gov. Dave Heineman issued an order for all U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff immediately in honor of those killed, remaining until Sunday.

The material also stated that the shooting was at least the fourth at a mall or shopping center that year, following incidents in Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; and Douglasville, Georgia.

Victim and family details

The material provided additional personal details about victims:

Gary Scharf (48)

Scharf’s family said he was buying clothes before flying out on a business trip. His sister said he was a national sales manager for a life sciences company. The family said they gathered at a farm in Curtis, Nebraska, to celebrate holidays, and that they had just done so at Thanksgiving. Steve Scharf said:

"The last time we spoke on the phone, I was at work, and he said, 'I love you. You're at work and you think twice about saying it, and you know? I'm glad I did. 'I love you,' and that was important,"

and:

"Now, I'm glad I never said that. 1 wouldn't take back one I love you. What I wouldn't give to talk to him once more."

Doris Scharf said:

"He took his teddy bear outside, and I said, 'Where you going?' And he said, 'I'm going to show him to God,'"

John McDonald (65)

John McDonald was identified as a chaplain for the Clive Fire and Police Departments. He told KETV sister station KCCI:

"People enjoying their Christmas shopping on a pleasant afternoon, and then to have nine lives lost -- one of them my brother. It's a terrible thing,"

and:

"My brother was a gentle soul. If there was one thing that would be a characteristic of his, it was the fact that he did not like violence."

He also said:

"I again invite people observing this to take some time and think about where we are with some of our violent acts that we no longer need to entertain, and just softening of the heart,"

and:

"I can be a chaplain for other people, but on my own behalf, I am useless. I am devastated by this horrible turn of events,"

and:

"When I heard it, I had no response. I sat there and cried. That's all I could do."

He said:

"Happy memories of summertime, when we would go river rafting, the Salmon River in Idaho was one of our favorite places, we would go fishing or sometimes we'd just meet and just sit and talk,"

Angie Schuster (36)

Schuster’s family statement said she was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1994 with a degree in education. It said she worked as the manager of the girls department of Von Maur on the third floor and had worked at Von Maur for about 10 years. The family statement said:

"Angie was a very sweet and tender person and was loved by everyone that knew her,"

and:

"Angie was a devoted sister and aunt. She was very close to both of her sisters who live in Nebraska. She was a wonderful aunt to her two nieces and her nephew. She really loved children and talked about her nieces and nephew all the time. She was in love with her boyfriend and very happy about the life they were planning together. Angie always kept in touch with all the friends she made throughout her life and had many devoted friends around the country that she knew from college and her childhood."

Donna Kenkel said:

"they last saw each other Sunday at a child's birthday party at the Omaha zoo."

Maggie Webb (24)

The material stated Webb was two weeks from her 25th birthday. It said she was a native of Port Byron, Illinois, and had moved to Omaha in November to work as an up-and-coming manager at Von Maur. The material stated she graduated from ISU with a degree in business administration in 2005 and that she worked in the shoe department while in high school, then transferred to Chicago and then Omaha.

Gary Joy (56)

Joy’s mother, Inez, said her son visited often at the retirement community where she and her sister live. She said he was pursuing a degree in literature at Bellevue University. She said he loved to write poetry and stories and that he donated his organs. She said:

"That's what he wanted to do."

She said:

"He was helping somebody,"

and:

and:

and:

(These quotes were presented multiple times in the provided material.)

Beverly Flynn (47)

The material described Flynn as a mother of three and fellow gift wrapper. Janice Hopkins watched as the names were read. Hopkins said Flynn:

"This was her second season. She was also a real estate agent -- did this for Christmas because she thought it was fun and she liked the discount. Didn't do it for the money, she liked working,"

Dave Moody said:

"She was a wonderful real estate agent and well-respected."

Janet Jorgensen / Jorgenson (66/67)

The material described Jorgensen’s family and said she had three children and eight grandchildren. It stated her family said she worked at Von Maur since it opened in Omaha and that she had an impact on everyone she knew.

Grandson Ryan Husk said:

"Grandma and grandpa were the definition of true love,"

and:

"They were the epitome of true love."

Andi Husk said:

"We know that Grandma is really here with us, and she would be upset with us if we didn't go on just make it the best Christmas,"

and:

"Probably my youngest childhood memory is actually my grandmother rocking me in a wooden chair … and singing, 'You are my Sunshine,'"

and:

"I was probably 3, or so."

Diane Trent (53)

Trent’s funeral details were included. Her family attorney, Dennis P. Lee, released a statement describing her as the third oldest of six siblings, leaving behind four sisters and a brother, and that she grew up in Omaha, attended St. Pius and Marian High School, graduated from Benson High School, and worked at Von Maur for the last eight years. The statement said:

"Dianne was a dedicated worker at Von Maur for the last eight years. She was a gentle, generous, soft-spoken woman who loved the Lord. Dianne enjoyed vacationing with her family. She loved the Christmas season and shopping. She lovingly took in animals. Anyone who met her loved her. She was a fabulous aunt to 10 nieces and 13 nephews. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends."

Injured survivors’ later status

Fred Wilson was upgraded to stable by the following weekend.

The material stated that Ms. Oldham was fired by Von Maur on April 19, 2010, for not being able to meet job requirements due to her injuries. It stated:

"To this day she is unable to stand for long periods of time and was only able to work two four hour shifts per week."

Other details

Timeline consistency and time descriptions in the material

The material reported:

• Hawkins entered the store about 1:36 p.m. CST (19:36 UTC).
• Police indicated the first 911 call came in at 1:42 p.m., and that the shooting was already over when police arrived six minutes later.
• Another portion stated he stepped out of the elevator on the third floor and opened fire at approximately 1:43 p.m. CST.

Witness accounts

Jennifer Kramer told CNN she heard at least 25 shots and said:

"He just kept firing,"

and:

"I was scared to death he'd be walking around looking for someone else."

Mall employee Charissa Tatoon said:

"All of us were slightly confused because we didn't know what it was,"

and:

"Immediately after that, there was a series of maybe 20 to 25 more shots up on the third floor."

She described seeing:

"a gentleman coming down the escalator that was very near the shoe department, and he was heard saying that he was calling 911, and immediately after that, the shooter shot down from the third floor and shot him on the second floor."

Shawn Vidlak said:

"People started screaming about gunshots,"

and:

"I grabbed my wife and kids. We got out of there as fast as we could."

Accounts of hiding and evacuation

Omaha gunman-related accounts included shoppers hiding in clothing racks, dressing rooms, and bathrooms after hearing shots. The material included statements about escorting people out of the mall and community members helping with rides and phone borrowing.

Wright described the situation and fear while waiting in a hidden space, saying:

"Just waiting for your turn. Waiting for the door to fly open and for him to come in there, and it's your turn."

She also said:

"As soon as I got past the reporters and on to the road, I started shaking."

and:

"I had to talk to someone."

She said she heard a woman tell her companion:

"'Let's go to Von Maur now.'"

Wright said:

"I wonder what happened to her."