On Friday, May 16, 1986 David and Doris Young entered the Cokeville Elementary School of Cokeville, Wyoming and took 136 children and 18 adults hostage at the school. Before looking at the shooting, there is needed background information to establish the motive and events before the hostage crisis occurred.
David and Doris Young both resided in Cokeville, WY. David Young was the only police officer in Cokeville for 6 months in 1979 before being fired for misconduct after which, in disgrace, he moved to Tucson, AZ with his wife. They would live in Tucson until the day of the hostage crisis. David returned to Wyoming with his wife on May 16, 1986 and they arrived at the school at about 1:00 pm. At the school they unloaded a gasoline bomb, four rifles, and nine handguns. After entering the school David went to the office and began handing out a manifesto titled “ZERO EQUALS INFINITY” and announcing, “This is a revolution.” Teachers were initially confused, believing David and his wife to be mentally ill. While this occurred Doris Young went from classroom to classroom getting 136 children and 18 adults to follow her to a first-grade classroom by telling them that there was an emergency or an assembly.
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The remainder of this article is part of the book "Active Killers and the Crimes They Perpetrated," available in print or ebook via Amazon.
Joshua Borelli
Joshua Borelli has been studying active shooter and mass attack events over the course of the past several years, commensurate with receiving training on response and recovery to natural disasters and civil disturbances. Joshua started to outline this series of articles in an attempt to identify commonalities and logistical needs patterns for response.
