On July 18th 1984, 41 year old James Huberty entered the McDonalds Restaurant in San Ysidro, California. It was 4.00pm and armed with a semiautomatic Rifle, a Shotgun and a pistol he ordered the occupants “Everybody get down on the floor or I’ll kill somebody” As the people moved Huberty opened fire.

He fired randomly within the restaurant and at passers by. It was estimated that there were approximately 30 people in the restaurant at the time. Among the dead and wounded were children playing in the park next to the restaurant. One of the first officers on the scene was Arthur Velasquez who said that when he arrived “The suspect was firing everywhere, at anything that moved, I saw bodies laying outside, adults and children”

When the special weapons team arrived they were given the go ahead to shoot the gunman. A sharp shooter with a rifle on the neighbouring roof killed Huberty. The assault had lasted well over an hour. The wounded were taken to hospitals in the local area, these hospitals were overrun with calls from worried relatives and friends who believed their loved ones may have been at the restaurant.

James Huberty a 41 year old father of two had moved to San Ysidro only seven months earlier. The Vietnam Vet was an out of work security guard who blamed the Mexicans for his inability to get a job. On the morning of the massacre he wore military style clothing picked up his assault weapon and said “I’m going hunting. Hunting humans”

Huberty had been suffering from depression and his wife said he had been hearing voices. She had tried to persuade him to see a psychiatrist. Although no motive was ever found for the killings, his wife claimed that his exposure to heavy metals during his work as a welder in Ohio may have been a factor.

Tests carried out on samples taken from Huberty at his autopsy revealed high levels of Lead and Cadium which are believed to trigger rage.

The McDonalds Corporation demolished the restaurant and gave the land to the city of San Diego. This in turn was sold to the Southwestern College and in 1988 they opened a campus with seven class rooms for the local community.