Incident Summary:
11/11/1983: During the robbery of a pawnshop in Texarkana, Arkansas, United States, member of the Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord (CSA), Richard Snell, murdered the shop proprietor, William Strumpp. Snell assumed that the owner was Jewish (even though he was not), and thus, shot him in the head with a semi-automatic pistol. During the robbery, Snell also stole guns, jewelry, and several thousand dollars in cash, to finance the goals and revolution of CSA.
Overview
GTD ID:
198311110006
When:
1983-11-11
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Arkansas
City:
Texarkana
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Business |
Name of Entity |
pawnshop |
Specific Description |
pawnshop in Texarkana, Arkansas |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
William Strumpp, pawnshop proprietor |
Specific Description |
William Strumpp, pawnshop proprietor, who was assumed to be Jewish |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Minor (likely < $1 million) |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Firearms |
Handgun |
Weapon Details |
ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Additional Information |
The victim, William Strumpp, was shot in the head three times. The perpetrator, Richard Snell, assumed that the owner of the pawnshop was Jewish (even though he was actually Episcopalian) and believed that since he was Jewish, he was evil and "just needed to die," as the members of CSA believed that Jews were inferior and were trying to overthrow the US government, who they perceived to be dominated by a Zionist Occupation. Additionally, the robbery was an attempt to gain money to finance the CSA's revolution. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
1 |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
1 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
1 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
1 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
1 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
Mark S. Hamm, "Terrorism as Crime: From Oklahoma City to Al-Qaeda and Beyond," New York University Press, 2007. |
Federal Bureau of Investigation, "The Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord: Domestic Security/Terrorism Investigation," Official File Documents, FBI, DOJ, July 27, 1987. |
James Jefferson, "White Supremacist Put to Death After Killing Pawn Shop Operator," The Associated Press, April 20, 1995. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties