2001 Nevada County shootings

Shooting spree in Nevada County, California December 2025 February 2023 2001 Nevada County shootings 2001 1 10 ≈ approximately11:2811:37 a.m. PST Mass shooting, mass murder, spree shooting 3 3 (2 by gunfire) Scott Harlan Thorpe 9mm Ruger Semi-automatic pistolhttps://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/remembering-jan-10-2001/article_5e95e4d9-4575-5cfd-b72c-63da60dd2ede.html Remembering Jan. 10, 2001 The Union January 9, 2006 On January 10, 2001, a shooting spree took place in Nevada County, California, when 40-year-old Scott Harlan Thorpe opened fire with a 9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol killing three people and wounding three others in two separate shootings in the Nevada County area. The victims were 19-year-old Laura Wilcox, 68-year-old Pearlie Mae Feldman, and 24-year-old Mike Markle. The shooting spree led to the implementation of Laura's Law, a California state law that allows for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment. The law was named after Laura Wilcox, one of the victims of the shooting spree. Michael Moore's 2002 documentary film Bowling for Columbine was dedicated to Wilcox's memory.http://www.indiana.edu/~polfilm/student5/allen/dedications.htm This film was dedicated to the following individuals Sam Allen Indiana University 2002 2017-01-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20200221053820/http://www.indiana.edu/~polfilm/student5/allen/dedications.htm February 21, 2020October 14, 2002 Film honors gun victim https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/film-honors-gun-victim/ https://archive.today/20250606135427/https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/film-honors-gun-victim/article_0eb559d7-0b5c-560c-8e78-1d4121856d3f.html June 6, 2025 The Union Shootings Just before 11:30 a.m. on January 10, 2001, 40-year-old Scott Harlan Thorpe (born April 1, 1960) of Sacramento walked into the Nevada County Department of Behavioral Health in Nevada City, California.January 11, 2016 18 YEARS AGO: Remembering the Nevada County shootings — Jan. 10, 2001 https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/15-years-ago-remembering-the-nevada-county-shootings-jan-10-2001/ https://archive.today/20250606135121/https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/18-years-ago-remembering-the-nevada-county-shootings-jan-10-2001/article_ea28ea6f-027c-5e3f-9f28-b2f0ef1fc64a.html June 6, 2025 The Union Nevada County, California Thorpe walked up to the first-floor reception counter armed with a 9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol. Thorpe was a client of the outpatient mental health clinic and suffered from paranoia and agoraphobia. At the time, he was seeking treatment at the clinic for help with his illnesses and was undergoing monthly mental health counseling for his agoraphobia. Unhappy with the care he had been receiving, an enraged Thorpe fired through a glass panel with his gun and fatally shot the temporary receptionist, 19-year-old Laura Wilcox, a college student who was helping out at the Department of Behavioral Health during her winter break.https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dan-morain/article126031494.html An anniversary of a rampage, spent bearing witness and advocating January 10, 2017 The Sacramento Bee Nevada County, California He then shot at several other people around him, one of whom was 68-year-old Pearlie Mae Feldman, a mental health caregiver. She was fatally wounded by Thorpe. Another person was shot three times and injured in the head, lungs, esophagus, and right shoulder during the shooting,Import N. C. S. 2016-01-08 10 YEARS AGO: Remembering Jan. 10, 2001 https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/10-years-ago-remembering-jan-10-2001/article_14e65246-565f-5702-b32f-ecbe8d450a38.html https://archive.today/20250608025529/https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/10-years-ago-remembering-jan-10-2001/article_14e65246-565f-5702-b32f-ecbe8d450a38.html June 8, 2025 2025-06-08 The Union en while a fourth person jumped from a window to escape the gunfire and suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries.January 8, 2016 15 YEARS AGO: Three slain by gunman in Nevada County https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/15-years-ago-three-slain-by-gunman-in-nevada-county/ https://archive.today/20230219164150/https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/15-years-ago-three-slain-by-gunman-in-nevada-county/article_ce48eafd-5b23-580a-8814-5543eb2582fb.html February 19, 2023 The Union Nevada County, Californiahttp://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Nevada-City-Mourns-Gunman-s-motive-unclear-2965803.php Nevada City Mourns / Gunman's motive unclear after fatal rampage January 12, 2001 SF Gate Nevada County, Californiahttps://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/failed-warnings-arose-as-killers-paranoia-grew/ Failed warnings arose as killer's paranoia grew May 15, 2003 The Union Nevada County, California Thorpe then fled the scene in a blue van and drove for three miles towards Lyon's Restaurant in nearby Grass Valley.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-11-mn-11040-story.html Rampage in Quiet N. California Town Kills 3, Wounds 2 January 11, 2001 Bailey Eric Landsberg Mitchell Los Angeles Times Nevada City, California https://web.archive.org/web/20210822124843/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-11-mn-11040-story.html August 22, 2021 Less than ten minutes later, Thorpe arrived at the restaurant and headed inside.https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94425 Three Killed in Calif. Shootings January 11, 2001 ABC News Nevada City, California He then fatally shot the manager, 24-year-old Mike Markle, who had begun work at the restaurant just days before. At the time of his death, Markle had a five-year-old daughter and a son who was nearly three years old. Thorpe also shot the restaurant's cook seven times, injuring him in the stomach and arms. He then fled the scene.http://lubbockonline.com/stories/011201/upd_075-6383.shtml Gunman was mentally ill, feared public places, says neighbor January 12, 2001 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Associated Press Nevada City, California https://web.archive.org/web/20171116190325if_/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/011201/upd_075-6383.shtml November 16, 2017https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-laura-law-county-nevada-2013mar08-story.html As county considers Laura's Law, a mother reflects March 8, 2013 The San Diego Union Tribune Nevada County, California Aftermath After the shootings, Thorpe returned to his home in Smartsville where he lived alone at the time of the shooting.https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-gunman-was-mentally-ill-feared-public-places-says-2001jan12-story.html Gunman was mentally ill, feared public places, says neighbor January 12, 2001 The San Diego Union Tribune Associated Press Nevada County, California Thorpe made a phone call to his brother, who was a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy, and confessed over the phone to him about what he had done.http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Accused-Shooter-a-Loner-but-Loved-Animals-2965893.php Accused Shooter a Loner, but Loved Animals January 11, 2001 SF Gate Nevada County, California Thorpe's brother notified Nevada County authorities and helped them in apprehending his brother.http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Sierra-Shooting-Suspect-Called-Paranoid-2966168.php Sierra Shooting Suspect Called 'Paranoid' / Former janitor accused of killing 3 January 11, 2001 SF Gate Nevada County, Californiahttp://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Sierra-Shooting-Suspect-Called-Paranoid-2966168.php Shooting Suspect's History of Paranoia / Accused Sierra man had bouts with mental illness, family and friends say January 11, 2001 SF Gate Nevada County, California Authorities arrested Thorpe at his home around 9 p.m. later that day, where he surrendered peacefully after a three-hour standoff.http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/3-Slain-in-Sierra-Foothills-Rampage-Gunman-2966369.php 3 Slain in Sierra Foothills Rampage / Gunman surrenders after manhunt, standoff January 11, 2001 SF Gate Nevada County, California Thorpe carried out the shooting as he was unhappy with the care he was receiving at the clinic. He also said he carried out the shooting at the restaurant because he was convinced they had been poisoning him.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-12-mn-11513-story.html Nevada City Suspect Fears Crowds, Neighbor Says January 12, 2001 Bailey Eric Ingram Carl Los Angeles Times Nevada County, California https://web.archive.org/web/20210822124847/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-12-mn-11513-story.html August 22, 2021 Thorpe was found incompetent to stand trial and was declared not guilty by reason of insanity. He was initially sent to Atascadero State Hospital but was later transferred to California's Napa State Hospital for the mentally ill where he currently resides.https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/thorpe-pleads-guilty-to-murder/ Thorpe pleads guilty to murder March 21, 2003 The Union Nevada County, California Laura's Law Laura's Law As a result of the shooting, Laura's Law was implemented. It is a California state law that allows for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment. To qualify for the program, the person must have a serious mental illness plus a recent history of psychiatric hospitalizations, jailings or acts, threats or attempts of serious violent behavior towards themself or others.http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Carry-out-Laura-s-Law-2501373.php Carry out 'Laura's Law' March 21, 2006 SF Gate Nevada County, California See also List of homicides in California References Category:2001 in California Category:2001 murders in the United States Category:2001 mass shootings in the United States Category:2000s crimes in California Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:History of Nevada County, California Category:January 2001 crimes in the United States Category:Mass murders in California Category:Mass shootings in California Category:Spree shootings in the United States Category:2001 mass murders Category:2000s mass murders in the United States Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in the United States Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2001 Category:Attacks on restaurants in the United States Category:2001 in health Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in California Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States