Shannon Street massacre facts for kids
| Date | January 11–13, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 30 hours |
| Location | 2239 Shannon Street, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Participants | Memphis Police Department, seven cultists led by Lindberg Sanders |
| Deaths | 8 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2 |
| Verdict | Justifiable homicide |
The Shannon Street incident was a serious event that happened in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 1983. It involved a long standoff between police officers and a group of people inside a house. During this event, a police officer was taken hostage. After many hours, police entered the house. Sadly, the hostage and all the people inside the house died. This event led to important changes in how the Memphis police handle similar situations.
What Happened
On January 11, 1983, police in Memphis were called to a house on Shannon Street. They were looking into a report about a stolen purse. Inside the house was a man named Lindberg Sanders and thirteen of his followers. Sanders had strong negative feelings towards police.
Two officers, Ray Schwill and Bobby Hester, arrived at the house. Seven of Sanders' followers ran away and were later caught. But when Officers Schwill and Hester got to the house, the people inside attacked them. Officer Schwill was shot in the face but managed to escape. Officer Hester was taken hostage by the group. Schwill quickly called for help, and many police officers surrounded the house.
Another officer tried to enter the house but was immediately shot and hurt. A second officer went inside and exchanged gunfire with the group. After firing his gun, this officer left the house. He then got a shotgun and continued to shoot into the building.
Police tried to talk with Sanders. He said he wanted to broadcast the killing of a police officer on the radio. He also warned that if police tried to enter, Officer Hester would be beaten to death. Officer Hester could be heard on the police radio asking for help.
After 30 hours of talking without a solution, a special police team called SWAT raided the house. During the 20-minute raid, police used tear gas. The group inside the house then fired at the SWAT team using guns they had taken from the officers. The SWAT team fired back with their own weapons. All seven people remaining in the house, including Sanders, were killed. Police then found Officer Hester's body. He had been beaten and killed several hours earlier.
People Who Died
| Name | Age |
| Lindberg Sanders | 49 |
| Larnell Sanders | 26 |
| Michael Delane Coleman | 18 |
| Earl Thomas | 20 |
| Andrew Houston | 18 |
| David Lee Jordan | 29 |
| Cassell Harris | 21 |
| Officer Robert S. Hester | 34 |
What Happened After
Many police officers and citizens were upset that the Memphis Police waited 30 hours to raid the house. The officers who were part of the assault team wanted to go in sooner. They wanted to act when they heard Officer Hester screaming. However, police leaders wanted to keep trying to negotiate. By the time the raid was approved, Officer Hester had already died.
Some members of Sanders' family and the African-American community in Memphis disagreed with the police's story. Sanders' daughter said that Officer Schwill had started the argument. Sanders' wife claimed that all the men were killed in revenge for Officer Hester's death. A local leader, Julian Bolton, also thought the police response was too much. He felt that not everyone in the house was responsible for Hester's death. However, an investigation by the FBI found that the police had not done anything wrong.
After this event, the Memphis Police Department changed its rules. They decided that in hostage situations where a hostage has been hurt, they should raid immediately. The police also started more training. This training helps officers learn how to calm down difficult situations, especially when dealing with people who might have mental health challenges.
