Standard Gravure shooting
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The Standard Gravure shooting occurred on September 14, 1989 when Joseph Wesbecker entered Standard Gravure, his workplace, and killed eight people plus himself.
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[edit] Background
[edit] Standard Gravure
Standard Gravure was a major Louisville, Kentucky printing company founded in 1922. Reduced revenues led to an employee wage freeze in 1982, and in 1986 the company was sold. Standard Gravure's customers were retailers, many of which were in the process of going out of business, and at the same time, paper shortages were occurring in the marketplace. It was a time of cutbacks, stress and difficulty.
[edit] The shooter
Joseph Wesbecker was born on April 27, 1942. His father died when he was one year old and his mother was 16.[1]
In his twenties, he started work at a job with Standard Gravure in Louisville, Kentucky. He was married twice and had two sons. The failure of both marriages has been attributed to stresses he suffered at his workplace.[1]
After the failure of his marriages and periods of severe stress at his work, he was diagnosed with depression and attempted suicide. In 1988, his psychiatrist prescribed the newly released drug Prozac for him. In the spring of 1989, he went on disability leave from his job at Standard Gravure.[1]
[edit] The shooting
Wesbecker had worked for Standard Gravure for 17 years, but had been on disability leave since spring due to mental illness. On September 14, 1989 - Wesbecker entered the plant at 8:30 am, armed with an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle and several other firearms.[1] He walked around the plant for thirty minutes firing at employees, wounding twelve and killing eight and himself.[1]
[edit] Aftermath
Because Wesbecker had started taking Prozac less than a month before the shooting, the wounded and the families of those killed filed suit against manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company, claiming that Wesbecker's use of Prozac contributed to his actions. The jury decided 9-3 for Lilly, a result immediately seized upon by the company as vindication of Prozac's safety, ensuring continued sales and a favorable public image. Not until several years later was it revealed that Lilly had arranged a secret settlement with the plaintiffs in exchange for weakening their case. See Fentress v. Eli Lilly.
Wesbecker is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
[edit] References
- "Standard Gravure". The Encyclopedia of Louisville (1). (2001).
