2005 Living Church of God shooting

Mass shooting in Wisconsin, U.S. January 2025 December 2025 January 2025 Terry Ratzmann 2005 03 12 Brookfield, Wisconsin, U.S. 8 (including the perpetrator) 4 9mm Beretta 92FS semi-automatic pistol Anti-Christian sentiment 12:50 p.m. Congregants of Living Church of God Mass shooting, murder-suicide, mass murder The 2005 Living Church of God shooting was a mass shooting that occurred at the Living Church of God (LCG) church congregation on March 12, 2005, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States. The perpetrator, 44-year-old Terry Ratzmann, who had been a member of the church, shot and killed seven people and wounded four others before committing suicide. It was a religious hate crime.Shahid Sharon VOA Special Report History of mass shooters https://projects.voanews.com/mass-shootings/english/locations/worship.html https://archive.today/20250523025736/https://projects.voanews.com/mass-shootings/english/locations/worship.html May 23, 2025 2025-01-10 Voice of America en It is the deadliest mass shooting in the state of Wisconsin.O'Donnell Paul 2020-03-04 2012 Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting survivor dies of wounds https://religionnews.com/2020/03/04/2012-wisconsin-sikh-temple-shooting-survivor-dies-of-wounds/ 2026-10-25 RNS en-USPress By CARRIE ANTLFINGER and GRETCHEN EHLKE Associated 2020-02-27 Gunman among 6 dead in Milwaukee shooting at Molson Coors https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/02/26/milwaukee-police-responding-to-possible-shooting-at-millercoors-hq/ 2026-10-25 WKMG en Perpetrator Terry Michael RatzmannTerry Michael Ratzmann - Ancestry® http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/results?firstName=terry&lastName=ratzmann 2025-11-23 www.ancestry.com en-US (April 29, 1960 - March 12, 2005)Staff KOLLIN KOSMICKI-GM Today 2006-03-09 A trail of blood, tears and questions https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/a-trail-of-blood-tears-and-questions/article_1d5c51f5-d88d-5a1e-bedc-35a2ed0817ed.html https://archive.today/20250523125317/https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/a-trail-of-blood-tears-and-questions/article_1d5c51f5-d88d-5a1e-bedc-35a2ed0817ed.html May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 Greater Milwaukee Today en lived with his mother and sister.Dorfman Dan Wilgoren Jodi March 13, 2005 Gunman Kills 7 in Church Group Near Milwaukee https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/world/americas/13iht-shoot.html https://archive.today/20120906215902/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/world/americas/13iht-shoot.html?_r=1 September 6, 2012 January 6, 2025 The New York Times He had Hashimoto's thyroiditis (a chronic autoimmune disease) and a bicuspid aortic valve (a mild congenital heart abnormality), and was missing part of three fingers on his left hand as the result of a much earlier injury.Medical examiner releases autopsy findings http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue99/autopsy.html https://archive.today/20120911183711/http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue99/autopsy.html September 11, 2012 January 24, 2012 The Journal: News of the Churches of God He was a computer technician with a placement firm, and his contract was ending.Wilgoren Jodi March 13, 2005 Police Search for Answers in Wisconsin Shooting https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/national/13cnd-milwaukee.html https://archive.today/20120905161940/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/national/13cnd-milwaukee.html?_r=1 September 5, 2012 January 24, 2012 The New York Times Ratzmann was known to suffer from bouts of depression,Wilgoren Jodi March 14, 2005 After Shootings in Wisconsin, a Community Asks 'Why?' https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/national/14milwaukee.html https://archive.today/20120908070442/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/national/14milwaukee.html?_r=1 September 8, 2012 January 24, 2012 The New York Times and was reportedly infuriated by a sermon the minister had given two weeks earlier.January 2025 What was that sermon about, and what part of it upset him?Wilgoren Jodi March 15, 2005 Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/national/15milwaukee.html?pagewanted=print&position= https://archive.today/20250523030132/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/us/police-focus-on-religion-in-milwaukee-shootings.html May 23, 2025 January 24, 2012 The New York Times Shooting The Living Church of God congregation was gathered at a Sheraton hotel building.2005-03-14 Church, Police Probe 7 Murders - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/church-police-probe-7-murders/ https://archive.today/20250523011135/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/church-police-probe-7-murders/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 www.cbsnews.com en-US Ratzmann entered 20 minutes after the 12:30 service began,Times JODI WILGOREN New York Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2005/03/15/police-focus-on-religion-in/28167098007/ https://archive.today/20250523011702/https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2005/03/15/police-focus-on-religion-in/28167098007/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 Hendersonville Times-News en-US carrying a 9mm Beretta handgun, and fired 22 rounds into the congregation over the course of a minute,Officials end investigation of deadly church shooting https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2005/08/03/officials-end-investigation-of-deadly-church-shooting/30790329007/ https://archive.today/20250523012040/https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2005/08/03/officials-end-investigation-of-deadly-church-shooting/30790329007/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 Wilmington Star-News en-US killing the minister and six others, including the minister's son.2005-03-12 Relatives struggle for answers after shooting https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7167861 https://archive.today/20250523012241/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7167861 May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 NBC News en Four others, including the minister's wife, were wounded and hospitalized, with her being critically injured.2005-03-12 Job, Sermon Upset Church Gunman - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/job-sermon-upset-church-gunman/ https://archive.today/20250523012736/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/job-sermon-upset-church-gunman/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 www.cbsnews.com en-US Ratzmann emptied a 13 round magazine before reloading, then fired more shots before he shot and killed himself, leaving 4 rounds left in the second of the three magazines he had brought with him.2005-03-18 Ratzmann's friend recalls troubled man, horrible day https://www.gmtoday.com/business/ratzmanns-friend-recalls-troubled-man-horrible-day/article_fbb086ea-5a50-511f-8508-066e3782e6b4.html https://archive.today/20250523023136/https://www.gmtoday.com/business/ratzmanns-friend-recalls-troubled-man-horrible-day/article_fbb086ea-5a50-511f-8508-066e3782e6b4.html May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 Greater Milwaukee Today en2005-03-14 Hotel gunman who killed 7 upset about sermon, losing job https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/hotel-gunman-who-killed-7-upset-about-sermon-losing-job/ https://archive.today/20250523023233/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/hotel-gunman-who-killed-7-upset-about-sermon-losing-job/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 The Seattle Times en-USYork James Bone in New 2005-03-14 Member of pacifist church shoots 11 at service https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/member-of-pacifist-church-shoots-11-at-service-kcjg2bnh2f2?region=global https://archive.today/20250523023101/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/member-of-pacifist-church-shoots-11-at-service-kcjg2bnh2f2?region=global May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 www.thetimes.com en Victims Pastor Randy Lynn Gregory, 51 James Isaac Gregory, 16, son of Randy Gregory Harold Leroy Diekmeier, 74Dorfman Dan March 13, 2005 Gunman Kills 7 in Wisconsin Church Group https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/national/13milwaukee.html https://archive.today/20120915081248/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/national/13milwaukee.html?_r=1 September 15, 2012 January 24, 2012 The New York Times Gloria Sue Critari, 55 Bart Jameson Oliver, 15 Richard Wayne Reeves, 58 Gerald Anthony Miller, 44 Aftermath Police searched the home that Ratzmann shared with his mother and sister and recovered .22 caliber ammunition and three computers from the home.Juliet Williams and Ryan Nakashima Associated Press Wisconsin gunman described as being angry over sermon https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2005/03/14/wisconsin-gunman-described-as-being-angry-over-sermon/30695484007/ https://archive.today/20250523032442/https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2005/03/14/wisconsin-gunman-described-as-being-angry-over-sermon/30695484007/ May 23, 2025 2025-05-23 Wilmington Star-News en-US The incident focused national attention on the teachings and legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong, the Worldwide Church of God and LCG's leader Roderick C. Meredith,Banerjee Neela March 18, 2005 Rampage Puts Spotlight on a Church Community https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/18/national/18church.html https://archive.today/20120906032213/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/18/national/18church.html?_r=1 September 6, 2012 January 24, 2012 The New York Times and the police investigated religious issues as a potential motive for the shooting. As the investigation continued, police confirmed that they were "increasingly focused on religion as the motive" for the shooting, additionally stating that the pastor's family seemed to have been targeted.Wilgoren Jodi 2005-03-15 Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/us/police-focus-on-religion-in-milwaukee-shootings.html https://archive.today/20250523030132/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/us/police-focus-on-religion-in-milwaukee-shootings.html May 23, 2025 2025-01-10 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Voice of America determined that the attack was one of five houses of worship shootings in the United States that were motivated by religious hate. See also List of homicides in Wisconsin List of rampage killers in the United States References Category:2005 mass shootings in the United States Category:2005 murders in the United States Category:2005 in Wisconsin Category:Anti-Christian sentiment in the United States Category:2000s mass murders in the United States Category:Church shootings in the United States Category:Mass murders in Wisconsin Category:March 2005 crimes in the United States Category:2005 mass murders Category:Mass shootings in Wisconsin Category:Murder–suicides in Wisconsin Category:Suicides by firearm in Wisconsin Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Religious discrimination in Wisconsin Category:2005 in Christianity Category:Mass shootings in religious buildings and structures Category:Massacres in religious buildings and structures Category:Church massacres in the United States Category:Massacres in 2005