Bio

Benjamin Nathaniel Smith was born on March 22, 1978, and raised in Illinois. He grew up in the suburb of Wilmette, a city known for its affluence. He attended New Trier High School, which is considered one of the best public schools in Illinois. During high school, he did not pose for a photograph in his senior yearbook. However, he left a notable statement: "Sic semper tyrannis," which means "Thus always to tyrants." This phrase has historical significance, as it was reportedly shouted by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

After graduating, Smith attended Indiana University at Bloomington, where he studied criminal justice. While at the university, he was involved in distributing anti-minority materials, including hate-filled flyers targeting Jewish, Black, and Asian communities. He was featured in a story on the university's PBS station in October 1998, where he expressed his views on race and his right to distribute these leaflets.

Smith grew up in a family with two younger brothers. He had a variety of neighbors but was described as having an angry demeanor. Some neighbors were surprised to later learn about his actions during a violent spree in 1999, expressing disbelief that someone from their community could exhibit such extreme behaviors. In his dealings on campus, he was recognized by police for his actions but was often only addressed for minor offenses like distributing flyers or driving under the influence.

Smith was a member of the World Church of the Creator, a white supremacist organization led by Matthew Hale. Hale described Smith as a pleasant person who cared about his race. However, attention was drawn to Smith when Hale was denied a law license shortly before Smith's violent spree. While there were few signs of violence during Smith's earlier life, he had a growing affiliation with hate-filled beliefs and activities.

Murder Story

Benjamin Nathaniel Smith went on a shooting spree from July 2 to July 4, 1999. He randomly targeted people from racial and ethnic minorities in drive-by shootings in Illinois and Indiana. His first attacks occurred on the evening of July 2 when he shot and wounded six Orthodox Jews in Chicago. Later that night, he killed Ricky Byrdsong, an African-American former college basketball coach, outside Byrdsong's home in Skokie, Illinois.

On Saturday, July 3, Smith continued his rampage in Springfield, Illinois, where he shot and wounded an African-American minister. He then moved to Decatur, Illinois, and targeted more individuals, firing shots at other people but missing them.

On July 4, Smith drove to Bloomington, Indiana, where he killed Won-Joon Yoon, a 26-year-old Korean doctoral student. Yoon was shot outside the Korean United Methodist Church while on his way to services. Throughout this spree, Smith also fired at others, missing an additional nine individuals.

After committing these crimes, Smith fled from the police in a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, he shot himself twice in the head. The chase ended when he crashed his vehicle into a tree. He then shot himself in the heart, dying later from his injuries at the hospital. Smith's actions resulted in two confirmed fatalities and several injuries, marking a violent and tragic incident during the Independence Day weekend.