Lawrence William Moore

Lawrence William Moore was born in October 1955 and raised in the rural town of Scio, Oregon. As of 1981, Moore was a 25-year-old unemployed mill worker. Neighbors and acquaintances recalled him as a quiet, polite individual, often seen walking his golden retriever, Thaddeus, around the neighborhood. He was regarded as punctual, reserved, and someone who enjoyed target shooting in his spare time. From the outside, he appeared to be a typical country man, with no history of overt violence or criminality known to the public.

However, classmates and others who had known Moore from earlier stages in his life offered a contrasting view. They described a young man who seemed increasingly detached and aloof over time. These individuals noted that Moore had become socially withdrawn following high school, often avoiding interaction in public. If approached, he would sometimes leave mid-conversation without explanation.

Though he had no known major run-ins with the law prior to 1981, Moore’s behavior and mindset appeared to shift significantly in the years leading up to the shooting. His later statements revealed intense paranoia, delusions, and feelings of persecution.

On the night of May 7, 1981, Lawrence William Moore carried out a mass shooting that shook the city of Salem, Oregon. At approximately 10:30 p.m., Moore entered the Oregon Museum Tavern, a popular bar on Front Street NE, during a lively ladies' night event. Armed with a 9mm Browning handgun, Moore opened fire without warning. He first aimed at the bar and then turned his weapon on the crowd as patrons began to panic and flee for safety.

In a rampage that lasted several terrifying minutes, Moore emptied multiple magazines into the crowd. During the chaos, three people were killed instantly and twenty others wounded. Among the injured was Allen L. Wilcox, who succumbed to his injuries later that night. Nearly 32 years later, another victim, Dennis Scharf, died due to complications directly tied to injuries he sustained in the attack. His death brought the total fatality count to five.

Despite the carnage, patrons of the bar were able to subdue the gunman. While Moore paused to reload, one brave individual struck him with a pool cue. Several others quickly joined in and pinned him to the ground. Moore was held until law enforcement arrived and arrested him on the spot. His arrest marked the end of one of Oregon’s most tragic mass shooting incidents.

The victims who died included:

• Lori J. Cunningham, 22, a paralegal
• John W. Cooper, 27, partner in a family tool business
• Robert E. Hamblin, 24, self-employed auto body painter
• Allen L. Wilcox, 24, who worked at an auto parts store
• Dennis Scharf, 56 at the time of death, who passed away in 2013 due to complications from his 1981 wounds

Moore’s trial began on October 6, 1981. He entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. During the proceedings, he admitted to being the shooter but claimed he was attempting to apprehend a supposed “syndicate” of millionaires, Jews, and criminals who, he alleged, were attempting to poison him. This delusional belief, deeply rooted in paranoia, was presented as his motivation for the attack.

The jury, however, rejected the insanity defense. Moore was convicted on four counts of aggravated murder and sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison. He has remained incarcerated ever since, currently held at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem as of December 2024.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, a memorial was established at Oregon City's Mountain View Cemetery, honoring the victims of the shooting. The names of those who lost their lives in the Oregon Museum Tavern massacre are included among nearly 400 others who were murdered in the region.