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Edgewater Technology shooting

(Redirected from Wakefield massacre)

On December 26, 2000, a mass shooting took place at Edgewater Technology in Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States. Michael Morgan McDermott, an employee at Edgewater Technology, shot and killed seven of his coworkers. It is the deadliest mass shooting in Massachusetts history.[1]

Edgewater Technology shooting
Location200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 210, Wakefield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Coordinates42°30′1″N 71°4′33″W / 42.50028°N 71.07583°W / 42.50028; -71.07583
DateDecember 26, 2000
TargetEdgewater Technology
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, spree shooting, workplace shooting
Weapons
Deaths7
Injured0
PerpetratorMichael Morgan McDermott
MotiveUnknown

The weapons he used were an AK-47 variant, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .32 caliber pistol. He fired off a total of 37 rounds, shooting his victims in the back of the head repeatedly.[2] Police later found a .460-calibre Weatherby Mark V rifle in McDermott's locker.[3]

He was found by police sitting calmly and stated that he did not speak German. At trial, he stated that he was born without a soul and that God had allowed him to earn a soul by traveling back in time to kill Nazis. However, the prosecution asserted that the killings were motivated by his employer's garnishment of his wages for the IRS in order to pay back taxes that he owed. Evidence also showed that he had researched how to fake mental illness.[4]

McDermott was found guilty of seven counts of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[5]

Fatalities

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  • Jennifer Bragg Capobianco, 29, marketing
  • Janice Hagerty, 46, office manager
  • Louis A. Javelle, 58, director of consulting
  • Rose Manfredi, 48, payroll
  • Paul Marceau, 36, development technician
  • Cheryl Troy, 50, human resources director
  • Craig Wood, 29, human resources[6]

Perpetrator

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Michael Morgan McDermott was born Michael McDermod Martinez in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1958, and grew up in nearby Marshfield. He was the second of four children to Richard and Rosemary (née Reardon) Martinez, who both worked as teachers. In 1976, he graduated from Marshfield High, where he was rather popular among his peers according to a former classmate.[7][8]

Shortly after graduating high school, McDermott enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years as an electrician's mate, most of which was spent on the USS Narwhal. He was eventually honorably discharged with the rank of electrician's mate petty officer second class.[9]

From 1982 to 1988, McDermott worked for the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. He then moved to Weymouth, Massachusetts, and began work in research and development for Duracell. In 1992, McDermott married Monica Sheehan. They divorced several years later. Around this time, McDermott began to gain significant weight.[9] In 2000, after Duracell announced it would soon move to Bethel, Connecticut, McDermott resigned and later joined Edgewater Technology that same year.[10]

In October 2000, McDermott moved out of his apartment in South Weymouth after failing to pay his rent, leaving the residence in a derelict state and owing the landlord $1,720. He then moved into an apartment in Haverhill.[citation needed]

It later emerged that, in addition to his other financial troubles, McDermott had owed roughly $5,000 in back taxes to the IRS and that Edgewater Technology had withheld a portion of his wages in order to comply with an order by the IRS.[11]

As of 2024, McDermott is incarcerated at Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[12]

Media references

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McDermott is cited in the 2003 psychology book Why We Hate.[13]

In 2008, his case was studied on the psychology program Most Evil.[14]

Commemorations

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A cherry tree was planted outside of Edgewater Technology's offices in Wakefield in memory of the seven victims. Every December, carnation flowers are woven into the branches in their memory.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Saltzman, Jonathan; Andersen, Travis (December 26, 2010). "Emotions raw 10 years after shooting". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Goldberg, Carey (December 28, 2000). "A Deadly Turn to a Normal Work Day". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Stout, David (December 28, 2000). "Man Charged In Killings Evaded Strict Gun Laws". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "McDermott, Commonwealth vs., 448 Mass. 750". masscases.com.
  5. ^ O'Regan, Chris (April 24, 2002). "Worker Found Guilty In Office Slaying". CBS News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Emery, Theo (December 27, 2000). "Families, friends grapple with seven Wakefield slayings". Associated Press. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Story of accused killer depends on whom you ask". Associated Press. December 29, 2000. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Labi, Nadya (January 8, 2001). "Portrait Of A Killer". Time. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Suspect's history yields few clues". Cape Cod Times. Associated Press. December 30, 2000. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "In Wake of Killings, Strands of Suspect's Life". The New York Times. December 28, 2000. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "Report: Wakefield shooting suspect owed IRS less than $5K". Associated Press. January 3, 2001. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "Report and Recommendation Re:Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus" (PDF). www.govinfo.gov. October 25, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  13. ^ Dozier, Rush (2003). Why We Hate. McGraw-Hill. p. 352. ISBN 978-0809224791.
  14. ^ "Most Evil: Season 2". Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  15. ^ "Survivor of Mass Shooting on Healing Process". NECN. March 21, 2014.
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