1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting

1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting
L.I.R.R. train platform with empty tracks
The Merillon Avenue station (pictured in 2011) where the shooting occurred
LocationMerillon Avenue, Garden City Park, New York, U.S.
DateDecember 7, 1993; 30 years ago (1993-12-07) (EST)
TargetLong Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuters
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder
WeaponsRuger P89 semi-automatic pistol
Deaths6
Injured19
PerpetratorColin Ferguson
MotiveRacism against white people
Verdict
Convictions
SentenceSix consecutive life sentences without[a] the possibility of parole, plus 165+23 years

On December 7, 1993, a mass shooting occurred aboard a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train in Garden City Park, New York, United States. As the train arrived at the Merillon Avenue station, passenger Colin Ferguson began firing at other passengers with a semi-automatic pistol. Six of the victims were killed and nineteen others were wounded before Ferguson was tackled and held down by other passengers on the train.[1]

Ferguson's trial was noted for a number of unusual developments, including him dismissing his defense counsel, insisting on representing himself and questioning his victims on the stand. He was convicted in February 1995 on six counts of murder and nineteen counts of attempted murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is currently incarcerated at Great Meadow Correctional Facility, with an earliest possible release date of August 6, 2309.[2]


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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schemo1209 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Inmate Information » NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision". Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2019.