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Daniel Patrick LYNAM
Classification: Mass murderer
Characteristics:
Parricide
- History of mental illness
Number of victims: 7
Date of murders:
July 12,
1987
Date of birth: 1951
Victims profile: His parents, his two
children, his wife and her parents
Method of murder:
Shooting
(.38-caliber pistol)
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Status: Committed suicide by shooting himself the same day
Gunman Kills Seven In His Own Family And Then
Himself
The New York Times
July 13, 1987
A man shot seven members
of his family to death, possibly over a
period of two days, and then killed himself
when the police went to his home, the
authorities said today.
The gunman, who the
police said killed his parents, his two
children, his wife and her parents, was
identified by the office of the King County
Medical Examiner as Daniel Patrick Lynam, 36
years old.
The bodies of Mr. Lynam's
parents and of his wife's parents were found
Saturday night at their two separate homes
about three miles apart in north Tacoma. The
bodies of Mr. Lynam, his wife and their 2-year-old
daughter and 5-week-old son were found at
their rented house in Federal Way, 10 miles
north of Tacoma.
''We're sure that all of
the incidents are all tied together,'' said
Sgt. Steve Smith of the Tacoma police. ''It
is a family.'' Anonymous Call to Police
All four of those killed
in Tacoma died of gunshot wounds to the head,
possibly as early as Friday, according to
the police, who said a .38-caliber pistol
was believed to have been the weapon.
On Saturday evening, the
same night these four victims were found,
the police in King County, outside Tacoma,
received a call from an anonymous man who
said that his brother, whom he did not
otherwise identify, had just telephoned and
had told him of killing some people and of
preparing to kill himself. According to the
police, the caller said his brother had a
history of mental illness.
The caller directed the
police to the house in Federal Way, where
they were met by a man who told them to stay
back and who added, ''I don't want to hurt
you.'' About 10 minutes after officers had
arrived, they heard a noise inside the house.
They entered a few minutes later and found
Mr. Lynam and his wife and children dead of
gunshot wounds.
Police says man kills 7 in
family,
commits suicide
Boston Globe
13 July 1987
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A man who
reportedly had a history of mental illness methodically killed seven
members of his family, possibly over a period of two days, then killed
himself when police went to his home, authorities said yesterday.
The gunman, who killed his parents,
his two children, his wife and her parents, was identified as Daniel
Patrick Lynam, 36, by the King County medical examiner's office.
Suspect in murder-suicide that
claimed 8 had mental problems
Philadelphia Daily News
13 July 1987
A man who reportedly had a history
of mental illness methodically killed seven members of his family,
possibly over a period of two days, then killed himself when police went
to his home, authorities said.
The gunman, who killed his parents,
his two children, his wife and her parents, was identified yesterday as
Daniel Patrick Lynam, 36, by the King County medical examiner's office.
Man kills parents, wife, kids, in-laws,
himself
San Jose Mercury News
13 July 1987
A man described as a loner by
neighbors methodically shot to death his parents, his parents-in-law,
his wife and their two small children before killing himself, police
said.
There was no explanation for the
shootings at three homes, which may have begun as early as Friday, said
police in Kings County and Tacoma.
Motive unknown in killing on family
Lexington Herald-Leader
14 July 1987
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Daniel Patrick
Lynam was a loner, a man with a history of mental problems who had
trouble keeping a job, his relatives and acquaintances say.
Police said Lynam, 36, killed his
parents, his two young children, his wife and her parents on Friday and
Saturday before taking his own life.
Gunman kills seven in his own
family and then himself
FEDERAL WAY, Wash., July 12 -
A man shot seven members of his family to death, possibly over a
period of two days, and then killed himself when police went to his
home, the authorities said today.
The gunman, who the police said killed his
parents, his two children, his wife and her parents, was identified by
the office of the King County Medical Examiner as Daniel Patrick Lynam,
36 years old.
The bodies of Mr. Lynam's parents and of his wife's
parents were found Saturday night at their two separate homes about
three miles apart in north Tacoma. The bodies of Mr. Lynam, his wife
and their 2-year-old daughter and 5-week-old son were found at their
rented house in Federal Way, 10 miles north of Tacoma.
"We're sure that all of the incidents are all tied together," said Sgt.
Steve Smith of the Tacoma police. "It is a family."
Anonymous Call to Police
All four of those killed in Tacoma dies of gunshot
wounds to the head, possibly as early as Friday, according to the
police, who said a .38-caliber pistol was believed to have been the
weapon.
On Saturday evening, the same night these four
victims were found, the police in King County, outside Tacoma,
received a call from an anonymous man who said that his brother, whom
he did not otherwise identify, had just telephoned and had told him of
killing some people and of preparing to kill himself. According to the
police, the caller said his brother had a history of mental illness.
The caller directed the police to the house in
Federal Way, where they were met by a man who told them to stay back
and who added, "I don't want to hurt you." About 10 minutes after
officers had arrived, they heard a noise inside the house. They
entered a few minutes later and found Mr. Lynam and his wife and
children dead of gunshot wounds.
