Episode 28-NOLA Sniper-Mark Essex
Episode 28: SERIAL SNIPER – Mark Essex
In 1973, Navy veteran Mark Essex (known as “Jimmy”) decided he was sick of the racism he experienced both in and out of the military. So he began a war against the New Orleans police department on his own. From December 31, 1972 – January 7, 1973, Jimmy killed 9 people and injured 31 others.
But this story is also about the hero who saved the day, then-Lieutenant Colonel Charles Pitman, United States Marine Corps. Dig in with me, as I tell you a story of two servicemen, one died a murderer, and the other lived a hero.
Navy Veteran Mark Essex
Image found on wikipedia.
Letter Written by Mark Essex before he began his rampage on downtown NOLA.
Image found here.
Marine Corps helicopter flown by then LTC-Charles Pitman.
Image found here.
USMC Lieutenant General Charles “Chuck” Pitman
The True Hero
Image found here.
Episode 28 Resources:
- Joslin Joseph, We Are The Mighty, “Don’t Ask Permission, Ask Forgiveness: The USMC Pilot Who ‘Borrowed’ a Helo to End a Sniper Situation Has Died,” February 19, 2020, https://www.wearethemighty.com/amp/ltgen-charles-pitman-2645192469 (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Pitman
- Ramon Vargas, Times-Picayune, “40 Years After Sniper Mark Essex, Marine Pilot is Proud He Helped Stop the Carnage,” January 6, 2013, https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_ffc0a005-12c8-5412-ac72-d69dca6e9062.html (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- Official Bio, Lieutenant General Charles Pitman, http://navymarineassociation.net/pdf/Official%20Biography%20for%20Charles%20H.%20Pitman.pdf (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- Ramon Vargas, Times-Picayune/Stars and Stripes, “Retired Lt. Gen. Charles Pitman Sr., Whoe Heroics Helped Stop 1973 New Orleans Sniper Attack, Dies at 84,” February 18, 2020, https://www.stripes.com/news/us/retired-lt-gen-charles-pitman-sr-whose-heroics-helped-stop-1973-new-orleans-sniper-attack-dies-at-84-1.619169 (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1988/august/interview-lieutenant-general-charles-h-pitman-usmc
- Kevin Robinson, Pensacola News Journal, “No One Could Match His Courage: Marine Corps Lt Gen. Chuck Pitman Passes Away,” February 14, 2020, https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/02/14/marine-corps-lt-gen-charles-chuck-pitman-passes-away-age-84/4754109002/
- Marketta Davis, Pensacola News Journal, “Local Marine Leads Pilots in Rescue,” June 30, 2015, https://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/2015/06/30/marine-speaks-leading-iranian-rescue-mission/29529749/ (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- Mark Essex Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Essex (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- Leonard N. Moore, “Black Rage in New Orleans: Police Brutality and African American Activism,” pages 96-113, https://books.google.com/books?id=V7IluPG0GJ8C&pg=PA96#v=onepage&q&f=false (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- Ramon Vargas, The Advocate, “Dallas Police Shootings Revive Memory of Sniper Mark Essex, Who Killed Nine New Orleans, Including Five Cops, in 1973,” July 8, 2016, https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_1ebfbb30-6247-5187-a7fc-6f8725d25470.html (last accessed on 15 Apr 20).
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3688917/Dallas-sniper-attack-recalls-1973-slayings-New-Orleans.html (very good pictures)
- https://murderpedia.org/male.E/e/essex-mark-photos.htm (pictures of all police victims)
- https://www.nola.com/collection_fd5ccc8c-5272-11ea-9008-a78436c08b40.html (historic images of the 1973 sniper attack)
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