Incident Summary:

05/20/2013: A letter containing ricin was mailed to the Director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Mark Glaze, in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. The letter caused no injuries as it was intercepted before it could reach Glaze. This was one of three related attacks targeting pro-gun control political and social figures on this day. The letter warned of future attacks if Glaze and other gun control advocates pursued legislation to limit gun ownership. Shannon Richardson, an American television actress, was arrested on June 7, 2013 in connection with the attack.

GTD ID:
201305200074

When:
2013-05-20

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

District of Columbia

City:
Washington

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Unarmed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) No
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Specific Description Director: Mark Glaze
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Biological
Weapon Details
Ricin in a letter was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) No
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Other Crime Type
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. Richardson claimed she had sent the letters in order to frame her husband.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Anti-Gun Control extremists Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Texas woman in ricin case sentenced to 18 years in prison," CBS News, July 16, 2014.
"Texas woman is indicted over ricin letters to Obama, others," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 29, 2013.
"Texas woman indicted for sending ricin letters to Obama," India Blooms News Service, June 29, 2013.