University of Alabama Huntsville

301 Sparkman Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35899

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Quick Facts

Killer(s): Amy Bishop,

Victim(s): Gopi Podila, Maria Ragland Davis, Adriel D. Johnson Sr., Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera (survived), Joseph G. Leahy (survived), Stephanie Monticciolo (survived),

Written by: Jewls Krueger

About This Location:

Statistically, it’s rare for a school shooter to be a female. It's also extremely rare for a school shooter to be a staff member.

On February 12, 2010, The University of Alabama Huntsville Biology department was having a routine meeting on the 3rd floor of the Shelby Center, attended by about 12 professors and staff department staff. Prior to the meeting, Professor Amy Bishop taught her anatomy class and neurosciences class, and they day seemed normal. A few minutes before 4:00pm, Amy Bishop stood up from the table and walked behind several of her coworkers on one side of the table. She pulled out a Ruger pistol and began shooting her coworkers execution style.

In total at the college, Bishop killed 3 people and injured an additional 3. After the shooting, she called her husband, who was unaware of what happened, to have him pick her up from campus. She was arrested outside of the building within minutes of the shooting, and claimed to not believe the police when they told her that she had murdered people. It was determined that she had been denied tenure and that it was likely that her teaching contract would not be renewed after the end of the school year, which was likely the motive for the shooting.

A memorial service was held on the campus for the 3 faculty members who were killed, which was attended by over 3,000 people. During the investigation it was found that Bishop had also shot and killed her brother in 1986 with a shotgun, but the shooting had been classified as an accident. The case was reopened and Bishop was charged with 4 murders in total. She had also previously assaulted a woman at an IHOP in 2002 for which she received parole. She’s currently serving a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Finding the Location

The University of Alabama Huntsville is located just West of Huntsville. The Shelby Center building is located on the west side of the campus just south of Holmes Ave on John Wright Dr. The shooting took place on the 3rd floor of the building, although the exact room is unclear.