Editing Charles Whitman (section)

{{Important}}
{{Villain_Infobox
|Image = Charles_Whitman_(1963).jpg
|fullname = Charles Joseph Whitman
|alias = The Texas Tower Sniper
|occupation = U.S. Marine (former)<br>Student (formerly)
|skills = Skilled with guns
|origin = Lake Worth, Florida, United States
|type of villain = [[Mass Shooting|Mass Shooter]]
|crimes = [[Mass murder]]<br>[[Familicide]]<br>[[Domestic abuse]]
|goals = 
|hobby = Karate<br>Scuba diving<br>Gambling<br>Hunting}}
{{Quote|I never could quite make it. These thoughts are too much for me.|Whitman's last written words in his suicide note.}}
'''Charles Joseph Whitman''' (June 24<sup>th</sup>, 1941 – August 1<sup>st</sup>, 1966), commonly known as the '''Texas Tower Sniper''', was a former Marine and spree killer. On August 1<sup>st</sup>, 1966; he climbed a tower at the University of Texas in Austin with 7 guns and killed 17 people before being shot dead by a police officer. The incident was one of the earliest [[School Shooting|school shootings]] to gain widespread attention.<ref>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/an-ex-marine-goes-on-a-killing-spree-at-the-university-of-texas An ex-Marine goes on a killing spree at the University of Texas], ''History Channel''</ref>

Earlier that day, he stabbed his wife, Kathy Whitman, and mother, Margaret Whitman, to death, then killed two people and wounded others as he ascended the tower of the University with a shotgun. The rest of his victims were killed or wounded with a sniper rifle. Altogether, Whitman killed fourteen people and wounded thirty-one in the 96 minutes before he was shot and killed by Austin police officer Houston McCoy.<ref name = Whitman>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mind-murderer_n_1384102 The Mind Of A Mass Murderer: Charles Whitman, Brain Damage, And Violence (VIDEO)], ''HuffPost''</ref>

Upon autopsy (which Whitman requested be performed on him in his final letter)<ref name = Whitman></ref>, medical examiners discovered that Whitman had unknowingly been suffering from an aggressive brain tumor, likely explaining his sudden, violent shift in personality.<ref>[https://thedailytexan.com/2016/07/30/experts-still-disagree-on-role-of-tower-shooters-brain-tumor/ Experts still disagree on role of Tower shooter’s brain tumor], ''The Daily Texan''</ref><ref name = facts></ref>