Richard Hawkins: ‘Now I’ll be famous’
Richard Hawkins, the 19-year-old, who opened fire with a rifle at a busy department store yesterday in Omaha, killing eight people before turning the gun on himself, made a prediction before the shooting: “Now I’ll be famous,” he wrote in a suicide note left behind.
It always comes down to the appetizing notion for these people that if you go on a murdering rampage in a mall or school or in your office building, you’ll be “breaking news” on television for a few days. You’ll get your fifteen minutes!
Isn’t this part of what might send these people over the hurdle? Perhaps the thought of the publicity is the crowning moment, turning that inner insanity to an actuality, thus empowering them to act out on their violent fantasies in public?
Here is the scene—all too familiar:
[edited from the AP]—Witnesses said the gunman sprayed fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store using what police said was an SKS assault rifle they found at the scene.
“My knees rocked. I didn’t know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else,” said Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter at the Westroads Mall. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
Police found the first victim on the second floor, then several more near a customer service station on the third floor.
The shooter was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his victims were discovered on the second and third floors.
The shooter was kicked out by his family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family in a house in a middle-class neighborhood in Bellevue, a suburb wedged between Offutt Air Force Base and the Missouri River, said Debora Maruca-Kovac, a nurse who along with her husband took in the shooter, a friend of her sons.
“When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like a lost pound puppy that nobody wanted,” Maruca-Kovac said.
Maruca-Kovac said the shooter was fired from his job at a McDonald’s this week and had recently broken up with a girlfriend. She said he phoned her about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, telling her that he had left a note for her in his bedroom. She tried to get him to explain, but he hung up, she said.
Maybe all of us in the media should make a promise: not to report on any of these mass-shootings, not to print the photos or names of the killers and take away from these people the power of being famous.
It’s a first step, anyway.
We will never stop these types of crimes in an open society, but we can play a new role in reporting on them.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Yep – thats exactly what it would do. I wonder why they arent printing his middle name?
The media should be barred from giving these guys names out, no detailed background information etc. These insane kids really DO get off on this kind of stuff. They meet in websites and talk about it, how they will be getting back etc, and the media really helps them DO IT.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:51 am
It’s certainly a multi-faceted issue. Another side of it being that if we don’t publicize the event (very much), then what about the 9 lives that have been lost? Does is honor them less if we don’t talk about it?
So sad. It breaks my heart that people feel so much torment and hate that they insist on taking others down with them.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
That is certainly something to Ponder A. The difference between those how are so miserable that they only kill themselves and those who kill others first before they kill themselves. Maybe they do it just so that the rest of us can see how badly they are hurting. Otherwise, we’d never know.
Good point too about the victims. They deserve to be remembered and honored. I don’t see that happening anyway. “The public has a right to know” will prevail.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I like your idea about not reporting their names or showing their pictures.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Famous? “Infamous”, surely?
December 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I don’t know. I’m frankly skeptical that the media would ever agree to not report every detail of something sensational, and the public at large would likely howl in anger if they tried to.
To be honest I don’t know that it would stop this sort of thing either. It seems to me (and I certainly could be wrong) that most of the ones who brag about being famous after such crimes are the teenage rampage killers. Those who are older (physically, certainly not mentally) are generally out to kill for a specific reason – fame doesn’t play into it at all.
I think, in this information driven age, restraint of the kind being suggested just won’t happen.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Yeah OutofTX -
Not an option unless it was prohibited officially – oh another free speech issue.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
And Fiz – what’s really the difference these days? Or for that matter, what’s ever been the difference? The lines are blurred on that point.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:56 am
Here in Holland, I believe it is illegal to report the last name of a criminal or (as they usually are at the time of reporting) a suspect. This man would be referred to in the press as ‘Richard H.’. I think that works pretty well.
December 7th, 2007 at 5:00 am
That would never work here Alex. People are way too nosy and curious. Someone would leak the name.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:57 am
“That would never work here Alex. People are way too nosy and curious. Someone would leak the name. ”
You are so right on that Sophie. Case in point, the recent story of the suicide of Megan Meier. The media did not reveal Lori Drew’s name, and look at how that simple action spurred the online bloggers to research and find it out, only to reveal it to the world.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:51 am
L – O – S- E- R. That’s what you’ll be remembered for you stupid freak.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I hope he forever feels the pain of being stripped of his skin and bathed in salt as he rots in hell.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:47 am
^^ Doubt that’s gonna happen.
If these kids didn’t learn that there was a sick notoriety to be gained from this, they would probably just kill themselves. I think the incident that set the stage for this was definitively the Columbine situation. I know the majority of the country was shocked and outraged, but most people would probably be surprised to learn how many alienated young boys idolized them. Anyway, I know it was more important to bring this issue to the forefront for consideration, but now that you have – take it down and be the first media source to set that example!
December 7th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I think the stage was set for this back in the 60’s when Whitman got up in the clock tower at the University of Texas at Austin.
He killed 14 and injured 30+ after killing his wife & mother.
I was a child but I remember seeing it televised as it was happening. I lived in the city & can remember actually being afraid to go outside after that for quite some time.
Just last week, I’m on line & some one posts about the man with a supposed bomb here in NH and I’m shocked—-those things don’t happen here! Where is it safe anymore? Even though he was nuts and had no bomb, at the time I wondered right away if one of my family member’s or friend’s were in there with him! I know the odds were slim, but still.
Can’t imagine those that knew their family member’s were at that mall.
The 19 or 20 yr old wanting to go out in “style”—-pathetic. That’s a warped mind.
He had plenty of leakage, things were just not right yet he slipped through the cracks. Another one.
Better than relying on the media one way or another, why aren’t we aware of these people around us?
This guy here tells his stepson to watch the news, and he’s got “issues & mental health problems”!
ALARM BELLS where are ya???
Call authorities at the very least when you hear someone you know sounding that far out that he wants you to watch for him in the news!!!
A young man with an assault rifle and depression, who lives in your home, tells you to read a note tonight that he left for you in his room…………well now, come on!
ALARM BELLS where are ya???
Colombine. There really are no more words YET we had another university student, seen dressed in black in a home movie with guns pointed spouting hatred, then he goes to school & shoots everyone in sight.
A loner, spoke to no one and had to have had some leakage! Besides that horrific video that was like a roadmap of his mind!
ALARM BELLS any one???
What is wrong with US that we are not seeing them coming?
How does one bask in the glow of infamy when one is dead? Specially since, soon enough, you will be forgotten for the next criminal who comes along?
December 8th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Not publishing their names sounds like trying to stop an amputated limb from bleeding with a bandaid. We need to look at the bigger picture. What is wrong with our society today that makes people so troubled. We know that bullying is a big factor in a lot of these cases and yet it doesnt seem like the bullying in schools is any less. Life just seems to be too stressful for these people and they have so much anger inside of them. I dont think this poor man’s only motive was to be famous. I think he wanted other people to feel some of the anger and despair that he had been feeling.
December 8th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I believe that too Koreen. I think he wanted to WORLD to know how much pain he was in. The sad truth is that had he just committed suicide, only the few friends he had would know and they likely wouldn’t have been very surprised, given his background & circumstances. He was definitely making a statement.
December 8th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I totally and inherently DISAGREE. These people see how famous previous assassins were, and they want that. They want to be recognized.
IF the press said an UN-NAMED assassin did this, and didn’t focus on them, their history etc, I do believe these cases would decrease.
I am not alone in this belief, in fact it seems that Matt and Gregg agree. And Gavin De Becker made an entire chapter about it.
These (entirely sorry that they are sick, but they are sick) individuals are not only harmful to themselves, they are increasing this kind of attacks because the media just needs to know every bit of their history. They WANT recognition of their pain, and it IS sad, but to take out innocents in their endeavor to just end it is whats the problem now.
The next time it happens, it should read in the media, some terribly sick loser shot up a mall and was such a pussy that he killed himself too instead of telling them why. Why is easy. They are mentally ill.
December 8th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
YES!!!
Melissa, this is something that could be passed in the legislature?
I am not nor never have been political, I do my voting duties but I am not that good with changinging the law, so please excuse my ignorance, lol!
BUT I believe you really do have something here, and once it gets around…….even if years from now, it could save so many!!!
Some one posted from Holland they do not say the last name, only initial, however, I think UNKNOWN SUB is all any one of them should ever expect to get, dead or alive. Ever.
NO media attention whatsoever!
December 10th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Since I think I’m about the only conservative (although Libertarian) who posts in here, I will say this….I have very, serious doubts ANY legislation will be passed to silence the press from printing the names of anyone other than minors and rape victims.
I love freedom of speech. Even if it means I AM the one getting railed for opening my big mouth and voicing my thoughts. We need to be very, careful what we ask for. I mean, if we start trying to force what can and cannot be said, it could be like opening a Pandora’s Box.
That said, I agree with the poster who mentioned how eliminating the “notariety” of one who commits a crime for the purpose of “becoming famous” would have a positive impact in regard to lessening the desire to get famous in that manner.
I cannot imagine how terrible life seemed from that kid’s eyes. Why he felt a need to impose that type of sadness on others I cannot understand. YOu’d think someone experiencing pain would NOT want others to have to feel the same. Would be like a mother who lost her child and then wanted other mothers to know what it was like to loose their own and then go run one over. Makes zero sense!!! Then again, if we could make sense of it, we could probably fix/help those individuals.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Brenda, WHY do you think they not name minors and rape victims? To stop more victimization? Thats what I think it is.
Stop naming the perp and making them “Famous” then we will stop these sick kids from taking out others. They wont have the I will be famous, taking them out in style etc attitude.
Plus as an added bonus their FAMILIES will not be further victimized.
And you aren’t the only conservative here, not saying that I am one lol.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Mellisa,
I agree, to stop the victimization has to be why. As for not naming minors, it goes deeper because law already protects them as being such. When I was dispatching at the local PD, the dispatchers had to keep the public docket up to date. If a minor commit a crime, we could only type “minor” in the name category since that docket/book was constantly read by anyone who came in and asked permission to do so (mostly newspaper reporters…that’s how they get their lists of “local crimes” to print in the papers). Only the arresting officer(s) and the detectives were allowed to see the paperwork on such an incident. Was kept locked up downstairs in the detective’s work area…it would be curtains for anyone caught snooping (as it should be). I only witnessed one rape victim in person who came in with her mother to report the crime. Normally, they are ushered through a back door for the detectives to speak to privately. The rapist on the other hand came in in handcuffs and was also interrogated, but away from the victim of course. I knew the mother, so it was really sad for me to know what she and her daughter must have been going through. Mom’s body language told me she was not pleased I was there to know what was going on, but I have never even said anything to my husband, and would never do so although this was 10+ years ago.
It DOES make sense not to name persons who commit any type of hate crime in the paper or on television. To go on a shooting rampage must be that. I mean, how much hate must a person have inside to do such a thing? Even if deeply depressed, has to come from somewhere that is not “good”.
My point though was simply that people want to know everything and it will be a hard piece of legislation to get passed, although it is a good idea.
Glad I’m not the only conservative in here. Any other Libertarians around ?
December 11th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I guess I would classify myself as one, I am socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I like Ron Paul lol.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
That is good to know. I am one of those freaks who would go and live in a cave with my guns and dog if I had to. Kinda like a survivalist. Since I’m up in the way out there boonies in Virginia (REAL close to West Virginia), we rough it in the woods alot. have 250+ acres against National Forest and do alot of camping year round. No running water…unless you count the three creeks…no electricity…3 outhouses that stink so I use the woods. Hey, at least I bring a toothbrush and my own toilet paper :>)
Seriously, I would be OK out there if we ever had a 3rd world war that put us in the dark ages. My kids would not be happy though, no Guitar Hero!!
January 10th, 2008 at 4:13 am
They don’t name rape victims or minors simply to protect their privacy, considering their age and/or the sensitive nature of the crime.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:32 am
I wouldn’t go so far as to blame the media for the fame-greedy criminals, but aren’t they adding to the problem by covering bad news stories? Or are we to blame for watching to see what bad stuff will happen daily?
July 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
The truth is, the technology we have developed clearly comes along with a responsibility that is trumped by money. We should renounce our media system, and boycott all the negative news we are exposed to. We need to know, but these delusional criminals are clearly driven by the desire to be on the news. By the way, Nancy Grace is a perfect example of the exploitation of the unfortunate happenings in people’s lives.