Gian Luigi Ferri was born on December 29, 1937. His full name was Gianluigi Ettore Ferri. 

At 2:57 p.m. on July 1, 1993, Gian Luigi Ferri entered an office building at 101 California Street in San Francisco. He made his way to the 34th floor where the law firm Pettit & Martin was located. After getting off the elevator, Ferri put on ear protectors and began shooting with two TEC-9 handguns and a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun. Ferri had a mix of ammunition, including Black Talon hollow point bullets. He roamed around the 34th floor before moving down an internal staircase and continued his shooting on lower floors.

During the attack, Ferri killed eight people and injured several others. The victims included employees of Pettit & Martin and clients visiting the firm. After multiple gunfire exchanges, Ferri died by suicide as police officers arrived on the scene. The motivation behind Ferri's actions was never fully explained, and he left behind a letter that was difficult to understand, filled with complaints and grievances.

The shootings shocked the community and highlighted the need for stricter gun control laws. In response to the tragedy, California enacted some of the toughest gun laws in the United States. Various organizations focused on gun control and violence prevention were established following the attack. The incident also led to significant legal and legislative discussions about gun policies and public safety.