On May 21, 1998, Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon became the scene of one of the most disturbing school shootings of the late 20th century. That morning, 15-year-old Kipland “Kip” Kinkel carried out a carefully planned act of violence that began hours before classes. He had already murdered his parents in their home, then walked or drove—reports vary—to his school campus armed with a .22-caliber rifle and a 9mm handgun.
Just before 9 a.m., Kinkel entered the school cafeteria and opened fire, striking several classmates. The first bullet killed Natalie Hintz, a freshman, while others were wounded. He continued shooting in hallways and stairwells before fleeing outside. A school security officer intervened, and Kinkel was disarmed and detained without further injury to students.
Investigators would later discover that Kinkel had been stockpiling weapons and explosive devices in his bedroom for months. He had written hate-filled diary entries and internet postings expressing admiration for violent ideologies and mounting resentment toward classmates and school officials. He had previously been disciplined and expelled from school for bringing weapons and violent writings—but was allowed to return under dubious conditions.
Mental health records showed that Kinkel had suffered from depression and delusional thinking. Therapists had diagnosed him with depression and psychosis, and he had been prescribed medication, though treatment had been inconsistent. Neighbors and school staff reported increasing paranoia in the months before the shooting.
Kinkel was charged as an adult despite being a minor. He pleaded guilty or no-contest to murder and attempted murder charges and was sentenced to multiple life sentences without possibility of parole. He remains incarcerated.
The Thurston High School shooting exposed failures at multiple levels—school security, parental oversight, and mental health intervention. It showed how teenage turmoil combined with ideology, weapons access, and planned intent can culminate in mass violence inside school walls.
Articles:
Huffington Post – Kip Kinkel Is Ready To Speak
FRONTLINE: The Killer at Thurston High
Convicted School Shooter Kip Kinkel Petitions U.S. Supreme Court
Thurston High shooter Kip Kinkel loses life-sentence appeal
Kristin Kinkel opens up about how she and her brother, Oregon school shooter Kip Kinkel, have clung to one another since his rampage
What Happens to a School Shooter’s Sister?
I Was 15 When Kip Kinkel Opened Fire at My School — 27 Years Later, I Still Remember Everything
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