The Dark Truth: Chuck E Cheese's Killing

On December 14, 1993, four employees were shot and killed, and a fifth was seriously injured at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora, Colorado. The perpetrator, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap, was a former employee of the restaurant who was frustrated about being fired and sought revenge. The incident, known as the Chuck E. Cheese Massacre, was at the time the deadliest mass shooting in Colorado.

The perpetrator, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap, was a former employee seeking revenge

On December 14, 1993, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap shot and killed four employees of a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora, Colorado, and seriously injured a fifth. Dunlap was a former employee of the restaurant and sought revenge after being fired five months prior to the shooting. He entered the restaurant at 9:00 p.m., ordered a ham and cheese sandwich, played an arcade game, and hid in the restroom. After closing, he exited the restroom and shot five employees with a .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The victims were identified as Sylvia Crowell, 19, Ben Grant, 17, Colleen O'Connor, 17, and Margaret Kohlberg, 50. Bobby Stephens, 20, was the lone survivor of the shooting. Dunlap fled the scene with $1,500 in cash and game tokens and was arrested at his mother's apartment twelve hours later.

Dunlap was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and other charges, and was initially sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1996. However, in 2020, his death sentence was commuted to life in prison without parole after Colorado abolished the death penalty.

Dunlap's actions were likely influenced by his troubled background and mental health issues. He had a history of suicide attempts and was diagnosed with hypomania at age 14. Additionally, his biological mother struggled with mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Dunlap's attorneys argued that his mental health was not properly considered during his trial.

The Chuck E. Cheese shooting shocked the community and sparked debates about gun violence, mental health, and how to punish society's worst criminals. The legal proceedings and appeals process lasted for many years, causing turmoil and uncertainty for the survivors and families of the victims.

Four employees were killed, and one was seriously injured

On December 14, 1993, four employees were killed and one was seriously injured at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora, Colorado. The perpetrator, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap, was a former employee of the restaurant who was frustrated about being fired five months prior to the shooting. He sought revenge by carrying out the attack.

Dunlap entered the restaurant at 9:00 p.m. and hid in a restroom at about 9:50 p.m. He exited the restroom after closing at 10:05 p.m. and shot five employees with a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol. The four employees who were killed were Sylvia Crowell, 19, Ben Grant, 17, Colleen O'Connor, 17, and Marge Kohlberg, 50. Bobby Stephens, 20, was the lone survivor of the shooting.

Dunlap first shot Sylvia Crowell, who was cleaning the salad bar. She was hit from close range in the right ear and was mortally wounded. Ben Grant was fatally shot near the left eye as he was vacuuming. Colleen O'Connor was fatally shot once through the temple. Bobby Stephens had been on a smoke break outside and returned to the restaurant as Dunlap was shooting. As Stephens walked in and unloaded utensils into the dishwasher, Dunlap came through the kitchen door, raised his handgun, and fired a shot that struck Stephens in the jaw. Stephens fell to the floor and played dead.

Dunlap then forced Marge Kohlberg, the store manager, to unlock the safe. After she opened it, Dunlap shot her in the ear. As he was taking the cash out of the safe, Dunlap fired a second fatal shot through Kohlberg's other ear after he noticed she was still moving. Dunlap fled the scene with $1,500 worth of cash and game tokens he stole from inside the restaurant. He was arrested at his mother's apartment twelve hours later.

Dunlap was found guilty and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life in prison

On May 17, 1996, Nathan Dunlap was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and other charges, and was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Dunlap was initially scheduled to be executed in August 2013, but Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed a temporary reprieve, postponing the execution.

Dunlap remained on death row until March 23, 2020, when Colorado abolished the death penalty. As a result, Dunlap's death sentence was commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole by Governor Jared Polis, who had been elected on a platform that included repealing the death penalty. Dunlap is currently incarcerated at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Cañon City.

The shooting sparked a wave of anger and debate about how to punish society's worst criminals

On December 14, 1993, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap shot and killed four employees of a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora, Colorado, and seriously injured a fifth. The shooting, which took place after the restaurant's closing time, was an act of revenge against the restaurant for firing Dunlap five months prior. Dunlap was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and other charges, and was initially sentenced to death by lethal injection. However, the shooting sparked a wave of anger and debate about how to punish society's worst criminals, with Colorado eventually abolishing the death penalty and commuting Dunlap's sentence to life in prison without parole.

The shooting shocked the community and sparked intense discussions and debates. The public reaction set a template for similar debates in the future, with people discussing gun violence, the ease of acquiring firearms, and mental health. The shooting also had a significant impact on the survivor, Bobby Stephens, who struggled with the emotional trauma and physical scars of the incident. He experienced flashbacks, uneasiness in public places, and attempted to take his own life.

The legal proceedings and appeals process for Dunlap's case were lengthy and complex, with Dunlap's attorneys arguing that his mental health issues and childhood abuse were not properly considered during his trial. The case also highlighted the complexities and emotions surrounding the death penalty, with some family members of the victims expressing a desire for Dunlap to suffer and rot in prison instead of being executed. The debate surrounding Dunlap's punishment reflected a wider conversation in Colorado and the United States about how to punish society's worst criminals and the appropriateness of the death penalty.

The governor's decision to grant Dunlap a reprieve from execution and the eventual abolition of the death penalty in Colorado reflected a shift towards recognizing the flaws in the capital punishment system and prioritizing a fair and thorough criminal justice process. While some, including the sole survivor, Bobby Stephens, believed that Dunlap deserved to die for his crimes, others felt that life in prison without parole was a more just punishment. The case of Nathan Dunlap and the Chuck E. Cheese shooting of 1993 sparked a wave of anger and soul-searching, leaving an indelible mark on those directly affected and prompting a broader conversation about punishment and justice in society.

Bobby Stephens, the sole survivor, has spoken about his experience and the impact the shooting has had on his life

Bobby Stephens, the sole survivor of the Chuck E. Cheese shooting, has spoken about his experience and the impact the shooting has had on his life. At the time of the shooting, Stephens was 20 years old and working at the restaurant. He had stepped out for a smoke break when the shooting started and was shot in the jaw as he walked back into the restaurant.

Stephens has described the impact the shooting has had on his life, including the physical and emotional struggles he has faced. He had to undergo reconstructive surgery and has spoken about the uneasiness he felt after the shooting. He recalled an incident where he went to a shopping mall but felt uneasy and watched the hands of everyone who passed by, looking for sudden movement. On another occasion, he dropped to the floor in a 7-Eleven when he heard a loud pop from a bike tire being inflated. Stephens also moved to Arizona to get away from it all but was recognised by a coworker there. He even attempted to take his own life at his lowest point.

Stephens has also spoken about the legal proceedings and his desire for closure. He has expressed frustration at the lengthy appeals process and the fact that the case has dragged on for so long. He has stated that he believes death is the appropriate punishment for the perpetrator, Nathan Dunlap, but he also wants to respect the opinions of the family members of the victims, not all of whom favour execution. He has said that he would be relieved if Dunlap's sentence was commuted to life in prison, but he also feels that anything short of execution would be an injustice as that was the decision made by the legal process.

Stephens has tried to move on with his life and is now busy working and raising his four sons. However, the shooting still affects him, and he has flashbacks from time to time. He has said that he wants the case to be put to rest and for a final decision to be made regarding Dunlap's sentence.

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