The Hoddle Street Massecre Was an incident January 13, 1987 where local ex army recruit Julian Knight sat up on a billboard on the corner of two streets and shot down 7 people, injuring 19 others.
Knight had been drinking heavily at a local pub, he stopped by his mother's home to pick up 3 weapons, before positioning himself behind the billboard on the corner of Hoddle and Ramsden Streets in Clifton Hill. After about 15 minutes, one shot from each of his 3 guns and the arrival of police and ambulances, Kinght left Hoddle street and made his way to the High Street/Queens Parade bridge, where he shot at another policeman. He then shot at a police helicopter, forcing it to land nearby, before making it to McKean Street in North Fitzroy, where he fired his last shots and surrendered to the police.
This was an instance that occurred much closer to home than most people living in the areas involved would have ever thought possible, taking place near family friendly areas, like Queens Parade, being so close to so many schools, most of which primary, and considering the amount of crime and violence has ever occurred in these areas. The significance of this was the added fear around locals, and the realisation that these sorts of things can happen anywhere and anytime.
Massacres, especially those involving multiple guns and alcohol really spiked in the 20th century, after a lower amount of instances had occurred in the 19th century, although there have already been some tragic incidents in the 21st century.
Darcy Power
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