Rick Benson was a disgruntled teacher who planned a school bombing to protest how teachers' careers would constantly be ruined by false accusations.
History[]
Benson worked as a teacher at a Manhattan high school. When a student started urinating in a trash can, he moved to stop him. The student, out of spite, accused Benson of molesting him. As a result, Benson was moved to the Temporary Reassignment Center (TRC), while his girlfriend left him. At the TRC, he heard other removed teachers tell their stories of how their careers were ruined by false accusations by students and their parents. This caused Benson to plot a massacre at his old school to vent his frustrations and expose the treatment of the other teachers at the TRC. He blogged photos and videos of weapons and pipe bombs under the alias "Moot".
The Homicide Squad eventually managed to identify him and his target. By the time they were able to disable the bombs, Benson had already opened fire with a Hi-Point 995 Carbine on the school's second floor, wounding three students and eventually reaching the library. He stopped firing to call his ex-girlfriend and insult her, blaming the attack on her. When Detective Lupo tried to talk him down, Benson fired at him in a fit of rage. He fumbled at trying to reload his gun and discarded it for a pipe bomb. However, Bernard and a teacher took advantage of the distraction and disarmed him, allowing Benson to be arrested. (L&O: "Rubber Room")
Known Victims[]
- May 20, 2010: The school attack:
- Numerous unnamed students and staff members (attempted to blow up with three bombs)
- An unnamed female student (assaulted; shot in the stomach, but survived)
- Jason (student; assaulted; shot in the thigh, but survived)
- An unnamed male student (assaulted; shot in the shoulder, but survived)
- Detective Cyrus Lupo (assaulted; shot at four times, but missed)