On January 7, 1973, • Robert Vernon Steagall • Elizabeth Newton Steagall • Phillip Joseph Coleman • Paul Arlynn Persigo • Louis Joseph Sirgo and others were shot by a sniper. Intending to kill "just honkies," Mark Essex had opened fire at a police department on New Year's Eve, fatally wounding an officer and a cadet. He then hid for several days before entering a hotel with his rifle. On the hunt for more targets, Mark promised a black hotel employee, "We're only shooting whites today." He found and killed Robert and Elizabeth, who were on a honeymoon, then set their room on fire. When emergency responders like Phillip, Paul, and Louis arrived, Mark fired on them as well. Between his two days of attacks, Mark shot 21 people.