On February 7, 2008, • William Biggs, • Tom Ballman, • Connie Karr, • Michael Lynch, • Kenneth Yost, and • Michael Swoboda were attacked at city hall. Charles Thornton approached William, who was a police officer, and shot him with a revolver, then stole his service pistol. Then he walked into a city council meeting and shot Tom, who was another officer, then Connie, then Michael Lynch and Kenneth. Finally, Charles shot Michael Swoboda in the face and back of the head. All of Charles's victims died at the scene except for Michael Swoboda, who passed away months later. Charles's shooting spree was the culmination of years of conflict with city officials, in which he claimed he had been racially targeted and discriminated against. According to his brother (who had once stabbed a man to death himself), Charles "tried what he considered all the avenues he had available... For him to build up the need to go and do what he did, it had to be on the same level as a person that would declare war."