Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In one tragic week at Fairchild Air Force Base, an "active shooter" terrorized the base hospital and a talented but reckless pilot crashed a B-52 bomber near the flight line. Both fatal tragedies had been repeatedly predicted by numerous airmen and mental health professionals. In "vivid and thoroughly researched detail" Warnings Unheeded delivers an unprecedented, in-depth look at the events that led to the twin tragedies.
The book follows an "active shooter" as he progresses toward his crime and dispels the myth that these incidents are random acts of violence committed without warning by otherwise normal individuals.
In a parallel account, Warnings Unheeded tells the story of a veteran pilot who was known for exceeding the maneuvering limits of his B-52 bomber. His reckless flying not only put the lives of his crew at risk, but also the lives of the air show spectators who gathered to watch him perform. When attempts to ground the pilot were unsuccessful, several aviators refused to fly with him and "predicted the worst air show disaster in history."
Warnings Unheeded is authored by Andy Brown, the man who ended the hospital killing spree, and is a result of more than seven years of writing and research. Brown "masterfully weaves" the stories together and intersperses them with chapters revealing the preparations he made that enabled him to end a pistol-versus-rifle gunfight with a 70 yard shot from his handgun. Brown also writes of his experience with the aftermath of the shooting and encourages others to learn from his mistakes when it comes to dealing with the effects of trauma.
These empowering stories are exhaustively researched and presented in an objective, narrative style that shows what can happen when authorities become complacent, when the precursors of violence are ignored and when the lessons from history are forgotten.
Synopsis
On 20 June 1994, a former airman sought vengeance with a rifle at the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital.
Four days later a rogue pilot crashed a B-52 bomber during an air-show practice flight.
Both tragedies had been predicted and repeatedly warned about.
The base psychiatrist knew the airman was dangerous.
"This is the kind of patient who ... one day ... he's going to come back and kill you."
Aircrews knew the rogue pilot was dangerous.
"We predicted the worst air-show disaster in history when we found out that he was gonna fly."
Have you ever heard someone say that a tragedy struck without warning?
Read Warnings Unheeded and see the precursors of violence and tragedy in this page-turning true story of mental illness, mass murder and aviation disaster.
"In vivid and thoroughly researched detail, Andy Brown masterfully weaves two tragic stories ... this is an important and well-written read."
Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D., Author of Blind-Sided: Homicide Where it is Least Expected
On 20 June 1994, a former airman sought vengeance with a rifle at the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital. Four days later a rogue pilot crashed a B-52 outside of Fairchild's Nuclear Weapon Storage Area. Both tragedies had been predicted and repeatedly warned about.
Warnings Unheeded is a rare look inside the troubled mind of a would-be active shooter. It is an exclusive look at a talented pilot whose dangerous flying prompted aircrews to refuse to fly with him. It is a look at the leadership culture that allowed both men to travel unchecked on the pathway toward destruction.
This unique true-crime book reads like a suspense novel, densely packed with details garnered from medical records, police reports and first-hand accounts obtained from journal entries, letters, witness statements and personal interviews. These empowering stories detail the heroic response to the tragedies, the events that lead up to them, the precursors of violence and disaster and the traumatic aftermath.
Written by Andy Brown, the man who ended the hospital killing spree. Brown's narrative focuses mainly on others, including the heroic life-saving actions of hospital patrons and staff, but he also describes the preparations he made which enabled him to win a pistol-versus-rifle gunfight as well as his own experience with the effects of trauma.
"An amazing book. An instant classic. Staff Sergeant Brown is a true guardian who saved countless lives with supernatural marksmanship skill in a moment of great need, but he has also proven himself to be a true warrior-wordsmith who will save even more lives, as the lessons from this book are learned and applied in our current violent times. Absolutely "required reading" for law enforcement and mental health professionals, but also profoundly valuable for anyone who wants to understand violence and mental illness in our society today."
Lt Col Dave Grossman (US Army, retired)
Author of On Combat, On Killing, and Assassination Generation
"There are specific lessons in this book that can help us to prevent lethal tragedy. Lessons for bosses, subordinates, and coworkers. Lessons for law enforcement, and for psychologists, and for human resources personnel. But there are also general lessons for all of us that can save lives, though perhaps not so dramatically nor so heroically as Andy Brown saving uncounted lives when he 'rode to the sound of the guns.'"
From the Foreword written by Massad Ayoob
Synopsis
Two fatal tragedies in one week... An active shooter and a fatal plane crash shook the community of Spokane, Washington. The incidents were shocking... but not unexpected.
On 20 June 1994, a vengeance-seeking gunman opened fire in an Air Force hospital. Despite warnings from his roommates and co-workers. Despite the efforts of mental-health doctors. A sociopath had slipped through the cracks.
Four days after the shooting, a B-52 bomber crashed during an air-show practice flight. Aviators had complained about the rogue pilot and his reckless maneuvers. When leadership refused to ground him, they predicted the worst air-show disaster in history.
This compelling true story is told in the words of the people who witnessed the tragedies unfold--the heroes, the first responders, the victims and the survivors.
Written by Andy Brown, the Air Force cop who ended the killing spree. After seven years of research, Warnings Unheeded is part of his ongoing effort to share the story of two preventable tragedies and the lessons within.
How many times have you heard that a killer, "just snapped?" Or that a tragic "accident" was unpredictable?
If you like true crime, nonfiction storytelling, or learning from history--read this page-turning true story of mass murder and aviation disaster.
***Contains more than 70 photographs and images.***
Synopsis
Mass murder and military aviation disaster. One community's experience with two fatal tragedies that occurred suddenly... but not without warning.
On 20 June 1994, a vengeance-seeking gunman opened fire in an Air Force hospital. Despite warnings from his roommates and co-workers. Despite the efforts of mental-health doctors. A sociopath had slipped through the cracks.
Four days after the shooting, a B-52 bomber crashed during an air-show practice flight. Aviators had complained about the rogue pilot and his reckless maneuvers. When leadership refused to ground him, they predicted the worst air-show disaster in history.
This compelling true story is told in the words of the people who witnessed the tragedies unfold--the heroes, the first responders, the victims and the survivors.
Written by Andy Brown, the Air Force cop who ended the killing spree. After seven years of research, Warnings Unheeded is part of his ongoing effort to share the story of two preventable tragedies and the lessons within.
How many times have you heard that a killer, "just snapped?" Or that a tragic "accident" was unpredictable?
If you like true crime, nonfiction storytelling, or learning from history--read this page-turning true story of mass murder and aviation disaster.
***Contains more than 70 photographs and images.***