WASHINGTON, DC.- Crime Museum announced that its Crime Fighting Gallery will now include the original 6mm Remington Sniper Rifle, used in the 1966 massacre at the University of Texas at Austin. The shooter, Charles Whitman, a former marine and engineering student, became known as the Texas Tower Sniper after he positioned himself on the 28th-floor of the University Tower’s observation deck and opened fire for 96 minutes on the students and residents of Austin, Texas. Whitman’s most accurate firearm with him that day was the scoped 6mm Remington rifle, which today still displays his original handwritten sightings for the scope on a piece of tape. This tragic event that claimed the lives of 16 and wounded 32 was the first recognized mass shooting at an education institution in U.S. history, and ultimately, one of the precipitating events that led to the creation of SWAT teams.

In 1966, the Austin police department lacked both the training and tactical teams needed to contain a trained sniper like Charles Whitman. Following the 1966 shooting, however, The Los Angeles Police Department formed the country’s first SWAT team and encouraged other departments around the country to form subsequent teams to confront the Black Panthers in 1969 and the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. Additionally, Whitman's procurement of firearms over the counter would lead to the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Crime Museum’s Chief Operating Officer, Janine Vaccarello comments on the museum’s new artifact, “With the University of Texas shooting being the first of its kind, we wanted to pay tribute to all the victims who lost their lives that day, while also recognizing all the police officers who continue to risk their lives on a daily basis.” Vaccarello continues, “With the recent tragedies in Statin Island and Ferguson, it is hard to imagine a time when increased police force was needed, but before the 1960s, there were no SWAT teams available to protect the community from a mass shooter like Charles Whitman. Today, school shootings are far too common, with one just last month at Florida State University.”

The Crime Fighting Gallery pays to tribute to all those who continue to dedicate their lives to protecting civilians, including police offers, military personnel, private investigators, FBI officers, and many others. The gallery also includes interactive games so museum guests can experience what a high-speed police chase feels like or participate in firearms training simulations (FATS) used by law enforcement to prepare for different situations. Other artifacts on display include the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List, famous firearms used throughout history, and a 1963 Harley Davidson Police Motorcycle.