Episode 13: The Lottery Shootings
Fridays at the Connecticut State Lottery headquarters were known as “dress-down Fridays”, so when 35-year-old Matthew Beck showed up to work wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, nobody thought anything was off.
Matthew Beck, an eight-year employee of the State Lottery, had recently returned from an almost 5-month leave of absence, which he cited was due to stress. Beck had dealt with some severe depression in his recent past, and was now feeling that same low again, as he discovered he was making $2 less than his co-workers who shared the same position as him.
On this fateful day of March 6th, 1998, Beck used his casual Friday sweatshirt to conceal the fact that he was carrying a semi-automatic handgun and a military-style hunting knife.
At approximately 8:30am, Beck entered the office of his former supervisor, 33-year-old Michael Logan. While the exact events that took place are unknown, the end result was Logan being stabbed in the chest and abdomen several times. From this office, Beck headed to the administrative suite in the back of the building, where a meeting was taking place. There were 5 employees in this meeting, including 38-year-old CFO and former mayor of New Britain, Linda Mlynarczyk. Beck entered the room and shot Mlynarczyk 3 times, immediately killing her.
The whole office was now aware that something awful was happening due to the sound of the “pop, pop, pop” of gunfire. While employees frantically streamed out of the building, Vice President of Operations, 40-year-old Frederick Rubelmann III was attempting to direct panicked workers to safety, instructing them to the parking lot and adjoining woods. It was at this point that Beck approached Rubelmann, and unloaded several rounds into the VP, killing him.
As the building continued to empty of the almost 100 employees, security officers and Lottery President, Otho Brown, directed staff outside into the parking lot. Beck appeared, clearly targeting Brown, who he chased outside into the overflow parking lot. It is said that Brown realized that he was a target and led Beck away from the other employees. While backing away from the crazed man, Brown stumbled and fell, throwing his hands up and pleading for his life. Beck shot him twice, then when Brown, still alive, begged him to stop, Beck turned around, pretending to leave, only to turn around again and deliver a third, fatal shot into Brown.
Police sirens could be heard, and as the officers approached Beck and ordered him to put his weapon down, Beck raised his gun and shot himself in the temple. He was rushed to Hartford Hospital where he died from his self-inflicted injuries.
Image sources:
nhregister.com - “Connecticut Lottery Shootings - 20 Years Ago Today”