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Where'd They Get Their Guns?

An Analysis of the Firearms Used in High-Profile Shootings, 1963 to 2001

Date: April 27 through July 15, 1997

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota; East Rush Lake, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; and, Miami Beach, Florida

Alleged Shooter: Andrew Philip Cunanan

People Killed: Six (shooter committed suicide)

People Injured: None

Firearm(s): Taurus .40 pistol


Circumstances

Over a period of nearly three months, Cunanan roamed from Minnesota to Florida via New York, running from the police. During that period, he killed five people including fashion designer Gianni Versace, before killing himself. Police characterized Cunanan's activities as a "spree killing," and his reasons remain unknown.


How Firearm(s) Acquired

The firearm was stolen from the first murder victim, Jeff Trail.

 
  1. Judy Pasternak and Tony Perry, "Fugitive's Death Leaves a Trail of Contradictions," Los Angeles Times, 25 July 1997, sec. A, p. 1.
  2. Luisa Yanez, "Why Was Versace a Victim?," Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 12 July 1998, sec. A, p. 1.
  3. Ardy Friedberg, "Police Close Versace Case; Motives Remain a Mystery," Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 December 1997, sec. A, p. 7.


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 All contents � 2001 Violence Policy Center

 


The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.