George Douglas Lott

Case name

George Douglas Lott

Timeline

• July 1, 1992 — George Lott stood up in a Tarrant County Courthouse courtroom in Fort Worth and fired a 9-millimeter handgun at least 17 times, killing two lawyers and wounding three people.
• July 1, 1992 — After firing, Lott rushed out of the courtroom, left the building before police arrived, and later turned himself in to authorities at a Dallas television station.
• September 20, 1994 — George Lott was executed by lethal injection in Texas.

Background

George Lott was a former lawyer who was angry about his divorce and a child-custody suit. He said he was still angry about losing his child custody case. He was associated with a child-custody case in the same court. He told a television station that he wanted to draw attention to wrongs he believed the legal system inflicted on him in his divorce and in a child-molesting charge that his ex-wife had brought against him. State bar records showed that he became licensed to practice law in Texas in 1981 but became inactive in 1988. At the time of the shooting he was not eligible to practice. Prison records listed his last occupation as computer programmer.

The offence

On July 1, 1992, a gunman opened fire inside the Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Worth. The shooting killed two lawyers and wounded three other people. Two men were killed: Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Chris Marshall and John Edwards, a defense attorney.

The wounded were Judge John G. Hill and Judge Clyde Ashworth, both of the state's appellate court for the Second District, and another assistant district attorney, Steven Conder. With the exception of John Edwards, all were shot in a fourth-floor courtroom where Judge Hill and Judge Ashworth were conducting a hearing. John Edwards was shot in a nearby stairwell.

Witnesses said the gunman had been sitting quietly in the spectator area when he suddenly stood and began firing at the three judges on the bench. Courthouse employees quickly dropped to the floor, and some locked themselves in their offices.

After firing, the gunman rushed out of the courtroom, turned down a stairwell, and left the building before police arrived.

Investigation

Lott turned himself in to the authorities at a Dallas television station and was identified as George Lott. He explained the shooting by saying he was still angry about losing his child custody case.

In speaking of Lott and his confession, Lieutenant Ralph Swearingin of the Fort Worth Police Department said:

"It's hard to say 100 percent, but at this point, over the last couple of hours, our investigation has focused on him. His description obviously fits and his account strongly parallels the factual situation that occurred today."

Arrest

Hours after the shooting, a man turned himself in to the authorities at a Dallas television station and said he was responsible. Lott was arraigned early that evening.

Trial

A former lawyer refused to appeal his death sentence and represented himself to the end.

Sentencing

George Lott was sentenced to death. He refused to appeal his death sentence. He refused offers of assistance and did nothing to halt his execution.

Outcome

George Lott was executed by lethal injection in Texas on September 20, 1994.

At the time of execution, Lott made no final statement and was pronounced dead at 12:19 A.M.

The execution was described as the second in Texas in a week and the speediest execution in Texas since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982. The average time from conviction to execution in Texas was described as eight and a half years.

Aftermath

Clyde Ashworth, a judge wounded in the attack, said:

"I have no sense of satisfaction. It's a shame his life has been wasted as well as the lives of those he killed and those who have been affected by those deaths."

Mr. Conder was treated for a superficial chest wound and released. Judge John G. Hill, listed in fair condition, had a shoulder wound. Judge Clyde Ashworth, listed in serious condition, had a hip wound.

People involved

• George Douglas Lott (gunman) — former lawyer; 45 years old at the time he explained the shooting on July 1, 1992; later described as 47 years old when executed; lived in the suburb of Arlington; said he used a 9-millimeter semi-automatic Glock handgun with a 16-round clip and an extra round.
• John Edwards (killed) — 33 years old; defense attorney; shot in a nearby stairwell.
• Chris Marshall (killed) — 41; Assistant District Attorney; chief of the appellate section in 1980; joined the district attorney's office in 1979; lived in Fort Worth; married; had an adult daughter.
• Steven Conder (wounded) — 28; another assistant district attorney; treated for a superficial chest wound and released.
• Judge John G. Hill (wounded) — 48; shoulder wound; listed in fair condition.
• Judge Clyde Ashworth (wounded) — 69; hip wound; listed in serious condition.
• Lieutenant Ralph Swearingin — Fort Worth Police Department; commented on Lott’s confession.
• Chief Thomas Windham — Fort Worth Police Department; commented on courthouse security measures.
• Judge Tom Vandergriff — Tarrant County Commissioners Court; commented on metal detectors being available on request and the appellate court setting.

Statements and quoted material

Lott said to officials at television station WFAA in Dallas:

"It is a horrible, horrible thing I did today,"

"I sinned. I am certainly wrong."

Lott later said that:

he had opened fire to call attention to the lengthy child custody case here in which his lost custody of his son, Neil;
while he was firing at the bench today he was not aiming at any particular judge.

Lott said he fired 17 shots before reloading and firing three or four more times, then walked down a stairwell and shot John Edwards because the young lawyer was in the way.

Courthouse security

The Tarrant County Courthouse was described as not equipped with metal detectors. Chief Thomas Windham said:

"I don't think there were any particular security measures taken in this particular building,"

Judge Tom Vandergriff said:

"You'd expect it in a criminal court or a family court but not an appellate court,"
and also said that while the county had metal detectors available on request, the appeals court was "an unlikely setting for what happened today."