On this day, Dec. 7, in 1993, Colin Ferguson opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train, killing six passengers and injuring 19. Ferguson, a Jamaican immigrant, started shooting at passengers on the New York City-bound train until he was wrestled to the ground by other commuters.
Defense attorney William Kunstler argued that Ferguson was not responsible due to deep-seated hatred of white people, but that argument so infuriated Ferguson that he fired Kunstler to act as his own attorney.
The bizarre trial opened with Ferguson admitting to bringing the gun onto the train, but claimed that he fell asleep, and a white man grabbed his gun and began firing. He also said the government implanted a computer chip in his brain.
The jury convicted Ferguson. He received six life terms.
— Scott McCabe
