Kipland Kinkel

Case identification

• Name: Kipland Kinkel

Background

Kipland Kinkel killed his parents at home and then opened fire at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. He returned to the school after being suspended for having a gun.

Kipland Kinkel was described as a 15-year-old freshman. His parents were teachers at Springfield’s two high schools. His older sister was described as a college cheerleader who had won honors in national cheerleading competitions.

Kipland Kinkel was described as having a reputation in the community where his family was well-regarded. In his middle school yearbook, he was named “Most Likely to Start World War III.”

Witnesses described the shooting as beginning shortly before 8 a.m. in the Thurston High School cafeteria, where up to 400 people were gathered.

The offence

Kipland Kinkel opened fire in a crowded school cafeteria at Thurston High School. He fired his rifle from the hip and remained calm as the gunfire continued.

During the gunfire, one of the misfires came with the barrel point-blank at a student’s head. When he was trying to reload, 17-year-old wrestler Jake Ryker tackled him despite being shot in his hand and chest. Several other students piled on to restrain him until police arrived.

Police said Kipland Kinkel parked a few blocks away and walked inside carrying a .22-caliber rifle, a .22-caliber handgun and a Glock handgun. A witness described him as dressed in a trench coat.

Police identified the suspect as Kipland P. Kinkel, who had been arrested, suspended and released to his parents’ custody a day earlier on a charge of possession of a stolen firearm. Police said he had been in trouble before for throwing rocks at cars from a highway overpass.

Victims at school

• Mikael Nickolauson, 17, was identified as the dead student.
• Ben Walker, 16, died after being wounded.
• Jonathan Crawford, 16, was quoted describing the gunman’s behavior.
• Michelle Calhoun described the shooting.
• Robbie Johnson was described as commenting on what Kinkel told people.
• Mikael Nickolauson was killed at the scene.
• Ben Walker died in the hospital the next day.

A total of 23 or 24 students were injured during the cafeteria shooting, and police said 19 were hit by gunfire. The injured count varied across the provided narrative (including “several others,” “18 wounded,” “19 hit by gunfire,” “22 others injured,” “24 injured,” and “several others were also taken to the hospital with a variety of wounds”). Police also said four others were injured in the rush to flee.

Parricide (killing of parents)

Police found two adult bodies in Kipland Kinkel’s home after his arrest, which were believed to be his parents.

The parents were identified as:

• William P. Kinkel, 59
• Faith M. Kinkel, 57

The father was described as retired from teaching Spanish at Thurston High. The mother was described as having taught Spanish at a nearby high school. Neighbors and the boy’s grandmother were referenced in connection with the adults being identified as the parents.

Kipland Kinkel was described as being arrested at school and then police checked his home following his suggestion.

At the home, police found at least five bombs, and the last device was found as demolition experts removed his mother’s body. Authorities also found two Howitzer shell casings and a hand grenade, plus bomb-making materials including detailed bomb-making instructions and various chemicals that could be used to make explosives. A device was accidentally detonated during removal efforts. A fifth bomb was found when investigators tried to remove his mother’s body.

Investigation and pre-arrest events

Kipland Kinkel was first arrested Wednesday after the school got a tip that he was trying to buy a stolen handgun on campus. He and another boy were arrested and released to the custody of their parents.

Kipland Kinkel had been suspended the day before for having a gun in his locker. The school superintendent said officials were looking at whether he should be expelled.

Friends and classmates described Kinkel talking about violence and bombs, and there were reports of bomb-making instruction talks and the “Most Likely to Start World War III” yearbook comment.

Police captured him at school after classmates tackled him while he was reloading.

Reported actions at police station

After he was arrested in the school shooting rampage, Kipland Kinkel lunged at an officer with a knife he smuggled into the police station, and authorities said he had taped the hunting knife to his leg. The officer sprayed him with pepper spray.

Arrest

Kipland Kinkel was arrested following the cafeteria shooting after he was subdued and wrestled down by 17-year-old Jake Ryker and several other students. Police then followed up on his suggestion to check his house, where they found two adult bodies.

Police said he was arrested and that he had been in trouble previously for throwing rocks at cars from a highway overpass.

Trial

Kipland Kinkel was charged with four counts of murder relating to his parents and the two students shot at the school, and he was also charged with additional counts described as aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.

A sentencing hearing narrative described that defense presented mental health experts to show he was mentally ill, including testimony about a brain scan suggesting schizophrenia and references to first cousins on his mother’s side being institutionalized. It also stated that the only psychologist who had seen Kinkel before the shootings maintained that he was in satisfactory mental health, after nine sessions.

Kipland Kinkel entered a guilty plea shortly before his trial was set to begin with jury selection.

Sentencing

Kipland Kinkel was sentenced in November 1999 to more than 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

At sentencing, he received:

• 25 years for the four murders
• 40 additional months for each of 26 counts of attempted murder

A sentence of “111.67 years” was described.

The judge was identified as Lane County Circuit Judge Jack Mattison, who explained the basis for the sentence using Oregon constitutional principles emphasizing protection of society.

Block quote (judge’s remarks, verbatim):

“I guarantee you,” began Mattison, “I am as nervous as anybody in this courtroom.”

After the sentence was read, Mark Walker collapsed in the courtroom when the sentence was read, and the judge called for a recess.

Kipland Kinkel was sent to MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Oregon.

Appeals

A request for a new trial was filed in January 2004 based on claims that Kip’s lawyers failed to properly pursue an insanity defense. The narrative stated a judge was expected to rule within the year, and also said that as of 2006 no motion had been given on the appeal.

Outcome

Kipland Kinkel’s conviction and sentence remained in place with a prison term without the possibility of parole as of November 10, 1999.

Aftermath

Surviving students and the community were described as preparing for counseling and holding vigil services.

A hunting accident narrative described that 17-year-old Mikael Nickolauson was dead on the scene and 16-year-old Ben Walker died later from injuries. It also described that Richard Peek Jr., a survivor wounded during the May 1998 shootings, died in an accident involving the gun discharging during deer hunting. The narrative stated that Robert Peek's gun accidentally discharged, and Robert phoned for help; the incident was under investigation. It also stated that both brothers were in the Thurston High cafeteria in Springfield when the gunman entered on May 21, 1998.

Timeline

• May 21, 1998 — Kipland Kinkel returned to Thurston High School and opened fire in the school cafeteria; classmates tackled him while he was reloading, and police later checked his home.
• May 23, 1998 — A second student wounded in the shooting rampage died.
• May 24, 1998 — Police said Kipland Kinkel lunged at an officer with a knife at the police station and was pepper sprayed.
• September 24, 1999 — Kipland Kinkel pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder, foregoing the possibility of being acquitted by reason of insanity.
• November 10, 1999 — Kipland Kinkel was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
• November 11, 1999 — A sentencing report described “111.67 years in prison.”
• October 12, 1999 — A school shooting survivor, Richard Peek Jr., died in a hunting accident after being shot in the head by his 17-year-old brother, police said.
• January 2004 — A request for a new trial was filed based on claims that Kip’s lawyers failed to properly pursue an insanity defense.

Other details

Firearms and explosives described

The narrative stated that Kipland Kinkel fired 51 rounds from a 50-round clip rifle plus one more from a Glock handgun. It also stated he was packing multiple ammunition clips and over 100 rounds of ammunition in his backpack.

The narrative described that police found extra bullets taped to his chest so he could kill himself.

Bomb materials found at his home included at least five bombs, 15 other inactive explosive devices, detailed bomb-making instructions, and chemicals that could be used to make explosives. A homemade device was accidentally detonated while removing explosives, and a fifth bomb was found when investigators tried to remove his mother’s body.

Two Howitzer shell casings and a hand grenade were also described as found.

Prior troubles and school handling

Police said Kinkel had been in trouble before for throwing rocks at cars from a highway overpass. Kipland Kinkel had been arrested before the shootings after a tip that he was trying to buy a stolen handgun on campus.

Kipland Kinkel faced certain expulsion after the gun was discovered, and officials were looking at whether he should be expelled.

Drug mention

The narrative described that 14-year-old Aaron Keeney said Kinkel was taking the anti-depressant Prozac.

Statements and quotations

Jonathan Crawford said:

“He was swiveling back and forth, firing at everyone,”

Michelle Calhoun said:

“He just mowed 'em down,”

Michelle Calhoun also said:

“It was just sort of happening in slow motion.”

Jake Ryker was quoted saying:

“That's enough.”

Josh Ryker was quoted as saying:

“Just shoot me, shoot me now,”

A narrative quote attributed to Kinkel before or during restraint included:

“Please, just shoot me.”

A quote attributed to Kinkel at the police station included:

“Shoot me, kill me!”

During an interview, Kinkel repeated at least seven times that he had “no other choice” but to kill his parents, and at one point exclaimed:

“God damn it...these voices inside my head”

The sentencing narrative included a quote by Kipland Kinkel to the court:

“I absolutely loved my parents and had no reason to kill them,”

Kipland Kinkel also said:

“I had no reason to dislike, kill, or try to kill anyone at Thurston.”

Named people and injuries/conditions mentioned

• Lane County sheriff’s spokeswoman Sharon Biser was mentioned regarding evacuation of nearby homes while bomb experts searched the Kinkel home.
• Capt. Jerry Smith was quoted about speaking to Kinkel afterward:

  “We spoke to him afterward -- he was very calm,”
  “His motive, what he was thinking about, what caused him to go there -- we've still got a long ways to go there.”

• District Attorney Doug Harcleroad was referenced regarding the adult charges and the death penalty not applying because of age.
• School Superintendent Jamon Kent was quoted:

  “You don't make sense out of this. There is no sense to it,”

• Wrestling coach Gary Bowden was quoted:

  “I think we ought to disarm. If this isn't a reason to, what is? I can flunk a kid and he can walk in and blow me away.”

• Student Robbie Johnson said:

  “He always said that it would be fun to kill someone and do stuff like that,”

• Student Robbie Johnson also said:

  “Yesterday, he told a couple of people he was probably going to do something stupid today and get back at the people who had expelled him.”