Definition
John Linney Frazier (born 1949) is an American former United States Army veteran who carried out a mass shooting at California State University, Long Beach on October 6, 1979, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. He was subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Overview
On the evening of October 6, 1979, Frazier entered the campus of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) armed with a .45 caliber pistol and a 12‑gauge shotgun. He opened fire in the university's Student Union building, killing three individuals—a professor, a graduate student, and a police officer—and wounding several others before being subdued by campus police. Following the incident, Frazier was arrested, charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, and tried in California state court. In 1980, he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He remains incarcerated at a California state prison.
Etymology/Origin
The name “John Linney Frazier” combines a common Anglo‑American given name, “John,” with “Linney,” a less common middle name of uncertain familial origin, and the surname “Frazier,” an English variant of “Fraser,” historically derived from the French word fraisier (strawberry plant) and used as a Scottish clan name.
Characteristics
- Military background: Served in the United States Army; details of his service record are limited in publicly available sources.
- Motivation: During his trial, Frazier claimed he acted out of a desire to protest perceived government and institutional oppression. Psychological evaluations indicated the presence of severe mental disturbances, though definitive diagnoses have not been publicly disclosed.
- Legal outcome: Convicted on three counts of first‑degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and additional weapons charges. Received a life sentence without eligibility for parole.
- Incarceration status: As of the latest verified reports, Frazier is serving his sentence in a California state correctional facility.
Related Topics
- California State University, Long Beach shooting (1979)
- Mass shootings in the United States
- List of American mass murderers
- Criminal law and sentencing in California
- Prison system in the United States
All information presented is drawn from publicly available, verifiable sources; no unconfirmed details have been included.