1984 Dallas nightclub shooting

Mass shooting in Dallas, Texas July 2023 May 2025 1984 Dallas nightclub shooting yes Ianni's Restaurant and Club, Dallas, Texas, United States 1984 06 29 32.9234 -96.8387 region:US-TX_type:event it 4 12:15 a.m. UTC-5 Mass shooting Smith & Wesson 459 6 1 Abdelkrim Belachheb 6 counts of murder, 1 count of attempted murder On June 29, 1984, a mass shooting occurred at a bar in Dallas, Texas, United States. Abdelkrim Belachheb, a 39-year-old Moroccan national and resident alien, opened fire in Ianni's Restaurant and Club, killing six and severely injuring one. As under Texas law multiple murder by itself was not one of the aggravating factors required to make murder a capital crime, Belachheb could not be sentenced to death. The shooting resulted in a change in Texas law making multiple murder itself a capital crime, and Belachheb was instead sentenced to life in prison. The shooting also resulted in criticism of American immigration policy, as Belachheb was able to get a visa despite being a fugitive in both Belgium and Morocco. Shortly after the 30th anniversary of the shooting, The Dallas Morning News described it as "Dallas’ worst mass murder". Shooting Fifteen minutes after midnight on June 29, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb opened fire in the Ianni's Restaurant and Club bar in Dallas, Texas. Belachheb was having an argument with a woman, before she shoved him away on the dance floor and called him a "monkey".2014-07-04 Mass murderer who was spared death penalty gets erased by time https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2014/07/04/mass-murderer-who-was-spared-death-penalty-gets-erased-by-time/ 2023-07-04 The Dallas Morning News en-US Belachheb blew her a kiss and left the bar, returning with a Smith & Wesson 459 from his car.Lavergne 2003 67 He told the woman "I've had enough with you", shot the woman point blank, and then walked down the row of bar stools, shooting four others. Belachheb exited the bar, but then returned and shot and killed another man. Belachheb then fled the bar, shooting a seventh man as he escaped.Barron David 1984-11-02 Abdelkrim Belachheb told a female patron at a crowded restaurant bar 'I've had enough with you,' pulled a pistol and opened fire, killing six people, a witness testified Friday. en-US United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/02/Abdelkrim-Belachheb-told-a-female-patron-at-a-crowded/3458468219600/ 2023-07-04 1984-06-30 6 Die In Dallas Club As Enraged Man Fires Wildly en-US 5 The New York Times AP https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/30/us/6-die-in-dallas-club-as-enraged-man-fires-wildly.html 2023-07-04 0362-4331 Belachheb was described as being calm during the shooting.1984-11-05 Dallas murder trial enters second week en-US 3 Lodi News-Sentinel UPI 14207 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5wzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5831,461863 2023-07-06 Google News Archive After fleeing the club, he drove his car into a telephone pole, which the police traced to him. Belachheb was arrested at a friend's house, 3 mi km 0.5 from the crash site, less than 2 hours later. Five victims died at the scene, while the woman who had argued with Belachheb died en route to Parkland Memorial Hospital.Lavergne 2003 114 One victim was left in serious condition, but survived. Three of the six killed were shot execution-style, with the gun held to their heads. They were four women and two men, aged 32 to 49. Perpetrator Abdelkrim Belachheb was born November 24, 1944, in N'Zalat Bni Amar, French Morocco,Lavergne 2003 14–15 the fourth child of eleven children to a Berber family. Belachheb's father was a businessman who spent most of his time away for work.Lavergne 2003 16-17 His father described him to ABC News in August 1985 as having been a problematic child and said he had often gotten into fights with other children. As a result, he was frequently subject to corporal punishment. His family later moved with Belachheb to Fez due to the issues he caused.Lavergne 2003 22–23 On June 21, 1963, Belachheb stabbed a man with a pocketknife in Casablanca. He was charged at Taza regional court, but not convicted, with records indicating that he skipped trial. Shortly after, at age 19, Belachheb travelled to Europe, with his family claiming it was to study welding and mechanics.Lavergne 2003 23 Following his arrival in France, Belachheb moved to Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, where he failed to obtain work permits, before settling in Brussels, Belgium in summer 1965. In October 1967, Belachheb married a local woman and had two children with her. He was regularly unfaithful and beat her. Between 1965 and 1973, Belachheb was regularly imprisoned by Belgian authorities, most often for assault and convicted once of carrying a prohibited firearm. He also served two years imprisonment in Kuwait for robbery. Since the early 1970s, Belachheb was noted for alcohol abuse, which continued even as he was prescribed Antabus.Lavergne 2003 29–36 On Belachheb's 35th birthday, enraged that there was not enough food in the fridge to prepare the dinner he wanted to make, he nearly beat his wife to death. When his daughter yelled for him to stop, he slapped her.Lavergne 2003 36–371984-08-06 Moroccan Had Criminal Record Before Slayings en-US 139 3 The Victoria Advocate AP 91 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=izUcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5523,1557989 2023-07-06 Google News Archive After being treated at the hospital, his wife filed charges against him and filed for divorce. After being released from jail, he returned to Morocco, and immediately sought to find a new country to live in.Lavergne 2003 37–38 He was tried and convicted in absentia for the assault of his wife and daughter, and faced a two-year prison sentence. Belachheb was able to enter the United States on a tourist visa despite the fact he was a fugitive in Belgium and Morocco.Lavergne 2003 235–2361984-08-06 Man accused of Dallas slayings had long overseas criminal record en-US 109 9 Gainesville Sun AP 26 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7JARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6662%2C1811652 2023-07-05 Google News Archive His application for entry may have involved fraud.McKee Mary 2004-06-21 '84 crime led to execution-law change https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-84-crime-led-t/186636949/ 2025-12-11 Fort Worth Star-Telegram 1A, 11A en-US Newspapers.com As American embassies began a policy of destroying visa records and associated documentation after a one-year period after the Iran hostage crisis, it could not be precisely determined what Belachheb had done to enter the country. Belachheb claimed to have been rejected by The Netherlands, Canada, Italy, and Switzerland, but not the U.S. The agencies involved in processing his application each deflected blame for his admission to other agencies.Lavergne 2003 11, 281984-08-06 Officials disagree blame for Belachheb's U.S. entry en-US 76 2 Mid-Cities Daily News UPI 190 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2MM9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3551,2686806 2023-07-06 Google News Archive Belachheb entered on a B-2 visa, which requires the applicant to provide proof they do not plan to stay in America. Holders of a B-2 visa are prohibited from seeking employment.Lavergne 2003 42–43 He lied to U.S. consular officials by telling them he had been living in Morocco for the past five years, a requirement for the visa, while he had actually been living in Belgium until a month before he applied.1984-08-06 Criminal Record Long For Shooting Suspect en-US 176 8 Observer–Reporter AP 84184 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=foZiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nXcNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1024,886130 2023-07-06 Google News Archive Belachheb denied any criminal activity or mental problems while applying for a visa. Belgian authorities knew him to have 13 assaults, one child beating, two involuntarily hospitalizations due to mental health and alcoholism, two terms in jail, and one on probation on his record, which should have barred Belachheb from entering the country. He received a non-immigrant visa on July 17, 1980, and entered the U.S. on April 22, 1981.Lavergne 2003 44 Belachheb illegally searched for a job, in violation of his visa.Lavergne 2003 44 He married an American citizen, granting him permanent residency in the United States on January 16, 1984. He often beat or threatened his wife. After an argument ten days before the shooting, she told Belachheb that she did not want to speak to or hear from him again. At the trial, she compared him to "a freight train out of control".Barron David 1984-11-08 The estranged wife of accused murderer Abdelkrim Belachheb testified Wednesday that her husband, charged with killing six people in a restaurant, was 'a freight train out of control' during the shootings. en-US United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/08/The-estranged-wife-of-accused-murderer-Abdelkrim-Belachheb-testified/3858468738000/ 2023-07-04 Belachheb was unemployed. He had previously been employed as a waiter for three weeks at a restaurant in Addison, but quit his job the Wednesday prior to the shooting. Belachheb bought the gun used in the shooting at a pawn shop. Belachheb blamed American women for his problems, and was said to have difficulty adjusting to American society. Legal proceedings Belachheb was initially only charged for the death of the woman he had fought with. He was held on US$500,000 bond. Shortly after the shooting, he was placed in solitary confinement under 24-hour suicide watch in jail.1984-07-03 Four of six people killed in a shooting spree at an exclusive nightclub were buried and the Moroccan charged in the slayings was under a 24-hour suicide watch, authorities said. en-US United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/07/03/Four-of-six-people-killed-in-a-shooting-spree/9243457675200/ 2023-07-04 The following Monday, he was charged with five additional counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, with a bond of $250,000 on each count. Ianni's reopened for business the same day. Belachheb plead not guilty by reason of insanity.Barron David 1984-11-05 Three Ianni victims shot by pistol held against their heads https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/05/Three-Ianni-victims-shot-by-pistol-held-against-their-heads/8210468478800/ 2023-07-04 United Press International en-US His defense argued that he had brain damage from repeated blows to the head and was unable to tell right from wrong.Barron David 1984-11-14 Abdelkrim Belachheb is a man with an anti-social personality, jurors were told during the final day of testimony in the trial of the Moroccan national, who is accused of shooting six people. en-US United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/14/Abdelkrim-Belachheb-is-a-man-with-an-anti-social-personality/8525469256400/ 2023-07-04 A doctor testified at his trial that he had paranoid schizophrenia and was undergoing a seizure at the time of the shooting. Two other psychiatrists testified that he instead had an anti-social personality, but was sane.1984-11-16 Waiter gets six life terms for shootings en-US 118 9 Wilmington Morning Star Associated Press 29 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0uMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6980,5548289 2023-07-06 Google News Archive Additionally, there was no evidence of brain damage and the doctor stated that Belachheb had normal or above average intelligence.1984-11-13 'Dr. Death' Claims Suspect Sociopath en-US 139 8 The Victoria Advocate AP 189 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OlodAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AFkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7051,3598518 2023-07-06 Google News Archive As under Texas law multiple murder was not itself a capital crime, Belachheb could not be sentenced to death. Belachheb was instead sentenced to six consecutive life sentences and fined $70,000, $10,000 for each victim, for the murders, in addition to a $10,000 fine and the maximum 20 years in prison for attempted murder of the seventh victim, to be served consecutively.Barron David 1984-11-15 Belachheb receives six life terms en-US United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/15/Belachheb-receives-six-life-terms/7294469342800/ 2023-07-04 Belachheb was surprised at the verdict, and thought he would be released from prison.1984-11-18 Thought He Would Be Freed - Sentence Surprised Mass Killer en-US 139 11 The Victoria Advocate AP 195 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PlodAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AFkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7003%2C4902489 2023-07-06 Google News Archive Belachheb was eligible for parole in 2004. During the next legislative session, a "multiple victims" provision was added to Texas's death penalty statute. He appealed his sentence. The courts affirmed the original ruling.Abdelkrim Belachheb v. The State of Texas Second Court of Appeals of Texas 699 S.W.2d 709 November 14th, 1985 https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2401349/belachheb-v-state/ The shooting resulted in criticism of American immigration policy, as Belachheb was able to get a visa despite being a fugitive in both Belgium and Morocco.Lavergne 2003 235 An August 1985 20/20 broadcast, titled Passport for Murder, featured several witnesses and the surviving victim of the shooting. The main focus of the broadcast was how easy it had been for Belachheb to lie his way into the United States. John McNeill, the injured victim who survived, while discussing Belachheb's admission to America, stated in January 1985 that: "We need to put some pressure on somebody, and we've go to do this together. I didn't appreciate getting blown away, and I think there was negligence there." McNeill and relatives of four of the dead victims sued the Immigration and Naturalization Service, but the lawsuit did not get far. McNeill's attorney stated that "Asking him if he is a nice guy is not an adequate screening procedure."Lavergne 2003 235–236 Legacy Shortly after the 30th anniversary of the shooting, The Dallas Morning News described it as "Dallas’ worst mass murder", as did the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2004. In 2003, American author Gary M. Lavergne wrote a book about the case, Worse Than Death: The Dallas Nightclub Murders and the Texas Multiple Murder Law, published by University of North Texas Press.Walker Jason Lavergne Gary M. 2005 Review of Worse than Death: The Dallas Nightclub Murders and the Texas Multiple Murder Law The Southwestern Historical Quarterly en 108 3 421–422 0038-478X 30242259Friedman Barry D. Lavergne Gary M. 2004 Review of Worse Than Death: The Dallas Nightclub Murders and the Texas Multiple Murder Law International Social Science Review en-US 79 1/2 73–74 0278-2308 41887175 He said of Belachheb's fate that "[he] was only happy when he was out roaming the streets and going to bars and trying to pick up women and drinking. So to put him in a cell is true punishment, and for him, I think it's worse than death". Belachheb died in prison at age 72 on October 19, 2017, of natural causes.Deaths in Custody database Texas Justice Initiative en-US References Works cited Lavergne Gary M. Worse Than Death: The Dallas Nightclub Murders and the Texas Multiple Murder Law University of North Texas Press 2003 978-1-57441-167-6 Denton en-US Gary Lavergne Category:1984 mass shootings in the United States Category:1984 murders in the United States Category:Deaths by firearm in Texas Category:June 1984 in the United States Category:Mass murders in Texas Category:1980s mass murders in the United States Category:Mass shootings in Texas Category:1984 in Texas Category:1980s crimes in Texas Category:1984 mass murders Category:Attacks on nightclubs in the United States Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Texas Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1984 Category:1980s in Dallas