Herman Klink

Herman Klink was born in 1893 in the United States. He worked as a woodworker until he was dismissed from his job eight months before the shooting. His employer terminated him due to concerns about his mental stability, believing Klink posed a risk to his coworkers. Following his dismissal, Klink remained unemployed. He suffered from severe mental illness, including persecutory delusions and dementia praecox. These delusions led him to believe that the government was spying on him. Neighbors noted his behavior as unusual, and his colleagues had long suspected he might be dangerous, though no formal action was taken to report him.

On March 6, 1933, Herman Klink left his home on Whitman Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, armed with a .22-caliber rifle. That day, he had read about the national bank holiday and reportedly argued at the Lorain Street Savings and Trust Co. bank about financial matters, despite having no known dealings with the bank.

He began his shooting spree by wounding a man in the shoulder. His next victim, 52-year-old Louis Kallay, was fatally shot after stepping outside to investigate the disturbance. Klink then killed 43-year-old Roy Kneale before moving toward West 38th Street, where he encountered Herman Pahler, a patrolman directing school traffic. Klink shot Pahler in the abdomen, groin, and legs; Pahler later died in the hospital.

As Klink continued his attack, he shot Albert Marquis, 67, and Joseph Sapko, 22, as they attempted to flee in opposite directions. Both sustained abdominal wounds and later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. During the rampage, Klink also shot at individuals who tried to assist the victims.

The shooting ended after Klink opened fire on a squad of pursuing detectives. He was fatally shot on Lorain Avenue by Detective Jay Cook following a short chase. In total, Klink killed five people and injured six others, ranging in age from 11 to 45.