michael ryan hungerford

This seemed to fit the profile of Michael Ryan. 33 years ago today, a sleepy Berkshire town was rocked by one of the most shocking mass shootings ever seen in the UK. The boy enjoyed pointing his weapon at cows, birds and even other children, says Dr Yardley. Emerging from the house, dressed in a headband and sleeveless flak jacket, Ryan carried a bag filled with food and other supplies. The Hungerford Massacre on August 19, 1987, saw 16 people killed in a rampage by gunman Michael Ryan. Trevor can't move out to his own place. Meanwhile, a police officer had noticed Godfreys empty car with open doors and had gone to investigate. Ryan looked in through the kitchen window and pointed his gun at her. The letter, complete with golden tassel, is still in its recorded delivery envelope and is kept in a basket in the Jacksons' kitchen. The day before, on 19 August 1987, Michael Ryan, a 27-year-old Hungerford man, drove to nearby Savernake Forest and shot dead Susan Godfrey, who was picnicking with her two young children,. Brightwell immediately informed his superior and Hungerford was declared safe for the waiting ambulances and fire engines to move in to the former danger zone. Ryan fired at them and Victor died instantly, whilst Myrtle died later in hospital. Peter Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering thirteen women and attacking seven other women. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited the village on Thursday, August 20, 1987, the day after the shooting, to pay her condolences. "We were all told to lie down and not move. She managed to drag herself into her house and survived. Thomas Hamilton murdered 17 people in Dunblane in 1996. It started with an assumed attempted sexual assault, but Ryan went on to kill many close acquaintances in his hometown. It was being chased up the road by Michael Ryan. He noticed the blue flashing light on the police car and decided to stroll up to ask the officer what was going on. Francis Butler was shot while walking his dog in the Memorial Gardens; Marcus Barney Barnard, was shot while driving to his home; Douglas Wainwright, died as he drove with his wife to visit their son; Erie Vardy, was shot while driving his van. Mrs Wainwright had the presence of mind to get out of the car and cower behind it. Ian Playle, the last victim to be fatally shot, had in fact been warned of the danger in South View by police. The help will come from within the community'. One man was injured. She said: 'Oh no Ivor, not you.'". 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Later that day, his parents were driving up from their home in Kent to visit him. Michael Payne (uncredited) Ryan Hanley Surgeon (uncredited) Director Ruki Sidhwa Writer Helen Tonge All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro Storyline Edit A look back at the Hungerford Massacre (1987) and its impact on the people who survived to one of the worst tragedies of UK history. Ryan stormed into the shop and again aimed his rifle at Dean. In less than an hour, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had killed 12 of their classmates and 1 teacher, injuring 24. As they drove down Priory Road, Ryan shot at their car and Playle died from a single bullet wound to the neck from the Beretta. His face, she says, was expressionless. Brereton was hit by four of the bullets and died in his car. Both died instantly. As they drove up Tarrants Hill, their windscreen was shattered by a spray of bullets and Vardy was hit twice, under the chin and in the torso. An elderly neighbour, Dorothy Smith, 77 years old and deaf in one ear, had come out into the street to see what all the noise was about. "When you work for the ambulance service, you do your best to help people," Mr Whiting says. In contrast, Dorothy Ryans funeral service, held at St Marys Church in Calne, Wiltshire, was only attended by 40 mourners. Marjorie Jackson recuperating in hospital in 1987, "I just thought to myself, I'm a mother. Marching her away from her two young children, he shot her 13 times in the back. At around 12:45pm, Ryan arrived at his next destination, 4 South View, a dead-end street in Hungerford, where he lived with his widowed mother. Semi-automatic rifles Ryan used during his rampage. That summer afternoon Ryan, a 27-year-old unemployed labourer, killed 16 people . It seemed that whilst he was in the midst of a murderous rampage, he still felt the need to protect children. These include Lonewolf: True Stories of Spree Killers (May 2002) by Pan Pantziarka and The Encyclopedia of Mass Murder by Brian Lane and Wilfred Gregg (1993). George White and PC Roger Brereton were in their cars when they were shot. When he slowed down to see what was happening, Ryan shot him in the head with the AK-47 and he died instantly. Continuing to live with his parents, his doting and indulgent mother would pay for anything he could not afford, including cars, petrol, insurance, and even his first gun, an air rifle. Mrs Whiting remembers: "He was very upset for weeks afterwards. The Hungerford Family Help Unit was hastily established in makeshift offices, co-ordinated by John Smith, to help a community suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But we've stuck by each other.". ", PC Roger Brereton's funeral was held near Newbury. Shortly after Ms Haslett escaped South View, her colleague Derek Whiting arrived in a second ambulance, completely unaware that a gunman was at large. The case of Michael Ryan, who went on a killing spree in the small town of Hungerford, resulting in the murder of 16 people, including his own mother. He put some petrol in his car and some in a canister. Ambulance-woman Hazel Haslett was injured in the arm and the leg by broken glass. Maybe he was distracted; maybe he enjoyed the power of sparing Mrs Wainwright's life. Meanwhile, police were busy getting some people to safety and preventing others from going where they thought Ryan might move to next. Then he and his brother Peter went into their home, released the dogs from the cupboard, and started to clean the blood and glass from their kitchen. The bullet entered her groin, smashed the top of her hip, part of her pelvis and the sciatic nerve, before exiting via her back. The couple have been married for 60 years and celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in January. Police surrounded the school building and Brightwell worked to establish communication with Ryan and ultimately to persuade him to surrender. "We cope by taking every day as it comes. The damage to Michael Ryan's house after he set fire to it. ', "She told me to get my arse straight down there. Mr Whiting did not understand. ", Trevor Wainwright still lives in Hungerford. Eric Vardy, a carpenter and van driver for Norland Nursery College, was on his way with passenger, Steven Ball, to a builders supplier. In the neighbouring forest he found Godfreys body, about 250 feet from her car. Amongst others also later commended for their bravery were ambulance-women Hazel Haslett and Linda Bright, who had been shot at by Ryan but who had continued working selflessly late into the night to help other victims.It was reported in the tabloid newspapers that following the public announcement of Ryans death, the people of Hungerford reacted with relieved delight. A former school friend remembers a teenage Ryan boasting of spying on and stalking people there. Close to tears, she toured the streets, met with the relatives and visited victims in hospital. Short for his age, Ryan was often teased and bullied but never retaliated and consequently avoided other children. "Ivor has very limited mobility, and his lungs are damaged from the bullet. ", Several of Derek and Mary Whiting's relatives were shot. The young policeman wondered whether he should see if he could do anything to help. He survived the attack. 12 - Sandra Hill He told his wife to stay indoors with the little girl she was babysitting and headed off to Hungerford town centre, first to a newsagent to buy some maps and then to the police station. Prof Craig Jackson, a psychologist who specialises in spree killers, thinks there was also a sexual motive. 13 - Victor Gibbs In an unfortunate turn of events, the police at the roadblock actually sent some drivers directly towards Ryan.Police Constable Roger Brereton rushed to the danger area of South View and Ryan shot at his patrol car 23 times. 5 - Abdul Khan Cash and cheques poured in from well-wishers, some even from children, and a Tragedy Fund was established, in collaboration with Lloyds TSB, Barclays and NatWest, the three banks in Hungerford. He also had a more sinister motivation for visiting the woodland. Despite the police helicopter hovering above him and telling him to lay down his weapons, Ryan merely walked away. "I always encouraged him to talk about what happened, and one day he whispered to me and asked if he could use a rude word. "It hasn't got any easier. "In fact, I first thought it was another lad who lived there. A right little sod. Two days later, Mr Playle died from his injuries. Healthwise, we're struggling. This powerful mix of emotions is often later expressed in an inappropriately violent response. Even now Mr Jackson has not been back to South View. Ryan walked past a young boy, Dean Lavisher, without seeming to notice him, but fired at another boy riding past on his bicycle, Dean Cadle, thankfully missing him. If it comes up, he leaves the room or goes to sit in the greenhouse. She remembers Michael as quiet and polite. Michael Ryan: The Hungerford Massacre: Directed by Adam Luria. The dust was flying up from the ground around my feet as the bullets hit. 10 - Douglas Wainwright If this was his plan, it fell to pieces when his car would not restart. This time, close-up. It also transpired that there were several unfortunate incidents encumbering the response by the police and other emergency services to the events on 19 August 1987. And she said I'm really sorry. Residents of the area were becoming increasingly worried as they continued to call for emergency help and none arrived. The open-air service outside the town hall was attended by over 60 percent of the population of Hungerford and the principal sermon preached by Right Honourable Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury.Apart from the numerous local and international newspaper articles written about the Hungerford Massacre and Michael Ryan, there were also several books. She parked behind Whites car and opening the door and looking in, said, Oh Ivor and then hurried up the road. He left his shotguns in his broken-down car, grabbed a pistol and two automatic rifles and almost immediately shot dead Roland and Sheila Mason, who were in their garden at the back of 6 South View. Routine admissions were cancelled, the X-ray department and the blood bank were put on alert, extra doctors and support staff was made available and the victims started pouring in. Next to him, in the passenger seat, Ivor Jackson was also shot in his arm, chest and head. 6 were already dead.". Prof Jackson says it was at this point Ryan changed his plans. What she found was houses on fire, people lying dead in their gardens and smashed cars lining the street. It later transpired that he had shot the family dog, a black Labrador. Whether Mrs Ryan truly believed her son's imaginings is impossible to tell. It was confirmed that Michael Robert Ryan had fatally shot himself at 6.52 pm on Wednesday, 19 August 1987, with a single gunshot to the head. Ryan was finally cornered and an armed officer trained his sights on him. He arrived back in South View in time to set fire to his home, shoot his dog, chase another dog, and take three guns from his car before killing Mr and Mrs Mason at 12:47. Kahn died later of his wounds. She scrambled into her house, where she collapsed and her mother immediately called an ambulance. Shotguns had to be registered and were required to be kept in secure storage. Say the name Hungerford and most people will associate the town with the events of Wednesday, 19 August, 1987. Day as it comes managed to drag herself into her house, dressed in canister. A murderous rampage, he leaves the room or goes to sit in neighbouring... Had to be fatally shot, had in fact been warned of the bullets.... Again aimed his rifle at Dean going on but never retaliated and consequently avoided other children in gardens. Officer what was going on bag filled with food and other supplies n't move out to his own.! Dead in their cars when they were shot dressed in a canister in! Lining the street do your best to help people, '' Mr Whiting says people in Dunblane in 1996 into..., it fell to pieces when his car would not restart the ground around feet... 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