Bio

Frank Vitkovic was born on September 7, 1965, in Melbourne, Australia. He had a Croatian father and an Italian mother. Frank grew up in the suburb of West Preston. As a child, he attended Redden Catholic College, which was later renamed Samaritan Catholic College. During his school years, he was known to be a good student and was well-liked by his peers.

In 1984, Frank began studying law at Melbourne University. However, by early 1987, he chose to leave the program. Reports suggest that he struggled with depression, particularly after injuring his knee while playing tennis. After his injury, he had a failed operation, which made things worse for him. This led to decreased social interactions and increased feelings of isolation from his friends.

Frank was described as tall, over six feet, and good-looking. He was thought to be friendly and helpful but also faced challenges in his personal life. A friend noted that he had become more withdrawn in the months leading up to the tragic events of December 1987. Frank had previously sought some counseling at the university, but there were no indications he was intent on violence.

In September 1987, he obtained a shooter’s license, stating he wanted it for hunting. He purchased a rifle shortly after, which he illegally modified. Friends and family later struggled to understand how someone who seemed so normal could be involved in a violent act.

Overall, Frank Vitkovic's early life was marked by changes, personal struggles, and a descent into isolation, which would ultimately lead to a tragic and violent conclusion.

Murder Story

On December 8, 1987, Frank Vitkovic entered the Australia Post building on Queen Street in Melbourne with a sawed-off M1 carbine hidden in a brown paper bag. At around 4:00 P.M., he made his way to the fifth floor, where a former friend worked. After a brief exchange, he pulled out his weapon and began shooting at employees, including a young woman, Judith Morris, who was killed.

Vitkovic then moved through the building, shooting randomly at people on various floors. He moved from floor to floor, firing at workers, some of whom were hiding under their desks. His shooting spree continued until he reached the twelfth floor. By the end of the attack, he had killed eight people and injured many others.

The chaos ended when his firearm was wrestled away from him by two office workers, Tony Gioia and Frank Carmody. After losing control of the weapon, Vitkovic lunged toward a window, trying to escape the building. Despite attempts to hold him back, he managed to break free and jumped to his death.

Around 1,000 people were in the building at the time of the shootings. Many were barricaded in their offices, unsure of what was happening. The police were not able to enter the building until after Vitkovic had already fallen. His actions left a lasting impact on the survivors and witnesses, many of whom continue to suffer emotional trauma from the event.