2001 Dallas shootings

Mark Anthony Stroman
Born	Template:Birth date Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	July 20, 2011(2011-07-20) (aged 41) Huntsville Unit, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Neo-Nazi, spree killer
Known for	Shooting spree targeting individuals perceived as Arabs or Muslims in retaliation for 9/11 attacks; executed for murder

Mark Anthony Stroman (October 13, 1969 – July 20, 2011) was an American neo-Nazi and spree killer who was executed in Texas for murder. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, Stroman embarked on a shooting rampage that resulted in two fatalities and one severe injury. His stated motivation was retaliation for 9/11, targeting individuals he perceived as Arabs or Muslims. Nevertheless, all his victims were of South Asian descent, including one Hindu.

Early life

Born in Dallas, Texas, on October 13, 1969, Mark Anthony Stroman reportedly suffered abuse from his stepfather. A documentary chronicling his life revealed that he married at age 15 and became a father shortly thereafter. Stroman identified with white supremacist ideology and was affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Prior to the shooting spree, he was out on bail for possession of firearms. His criminal history encompassed convictions for burglary, credit card fraud, robbery, and theft, with multiple prison sentences and two paroles. At age 12, he committed armed robbery as a juvenile. His body bore tattoos symbolizing Nazi and Ku Klux Klan affiliations.

Shooting spree

On September 15, 2001, Stroman entered Mom's Grocery, a convenience store located in Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Texas. The store was owned by Waqar Hasan, a 46-year-old Muslim immigrant from Pakistan who had recently settled in the area. While Hasan was cooking hamburgers on a grill, Stroman shot him in the head fatally before fleeing the scene.

Six days later, on September 21, Stroman arrived at a gas station in Dallas where he encountered Rais Bhuiyan, a 28-year-old cashier and former pilot in the Bangladeshi air force. Stroman aimed a double-barreled shotgun at Bhuiyan and asked about his origin. Before Bhuiyan could answer, Stroman fired at his head. Bhuiyan survived but suffered partial blindness in his right eye.

On October 4, Stroman fatally shot Vasudev Patel, a 49-year-old Hindu Indian immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen employed at a gas station in Mesquite, Texas. During an attempted armed robbery captured on security footage, Stroman demanded money while brandishing a .44-caliber handgun. Patel attempted to retrieve a concealed firearm but was shot in the chest before he could do so. Patel died at the scene as Stroman failed to open the cash register and left without any money.

Trial and execution

Stroman was apprehended on October 5 and admitted to targeting Arabs as revenge for the September 11 attacks. He claimed that his sister had died during those events; however, no evidence supported her existence. He told authorities that his actions were part of a personal war against those he believed to be Muslim.

On November 15, 2001, capital murder charges were filed against him. A jury convicted him on April 5, 2002, resulting in a death sentence.

One year after the shootings, Stroman showed no signs of regret and described his crimes on his blog as patriotic rather than hateful acts. Rais Bhuiyan, one of his survivors, consistently opposed the death penalty for Stroman and sought legal measures to prevent it. Citing Islamic teachings on forgiveness, Bhuiyan’s appeals were ultimately denied by the courts.

In subsequent years, Stroman expressed remorse and revised his perspective after learning about Bhuiyan’s efforts to save him. He referred to Bhuiyan as "an inspiring soul," and they eventually communicated directly, with Stroman expressing gratitude for Bhuiyan’s kindness.

Stroman was executed by lethal injection on July 20, 2011, at Texas’s Huntsville Unit. Following his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Grand Canyon.

In popular culture

In 2016, director Ilan Ziv produced the documentary An Eye for an Eye, which portrays Stroman's transformation from a vengeful killer to someone who received forgiveness from those he harmed. The film features conversations with both the families of the victims and Stroman himself prior to his execution.

See also

• List of people executed in Texas, 2010–2019
• List of people executed in the United States in 2011
• Murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a hate crime victim targeted in retaliation for 9/11
• Larme Price, a serial murderer driven by revenge related to 9/11