The Tragic Tale of Mark Essex: The New Orleans Sniper

Early Life and Background

Mark James Robert Essex entered the world on August 12, 1949, in Emporia, Kansas. Raised as the second of five children in a religious and tightly-knit family, Mark's upbringing was steeped in Emporia's tradition of racial harmony. His father, Mark Henry Essex, worked as a foreman at a meat-packing plant, while his mother, Nellie Essex, dedicated her efforts to counseling disadvantaged preschool-aged children. Growing up, Essex enjoyed participating in the Cub Scouts and excelled in music, playing the saxophone in his high school band. He also nurtured a love for hunting and fishing and aspired to become a minister during his teenage years.

Despite being popular in high school and having friends from diverse racial backgrounds, Essex's life took a turn after graduating from Emporia High School in 1967. He briefly attended Emporia State University before dropping out after one semester. Essex then worked at the same meat-packing plant as his father, but he soon sought greater opportunities beyond his hometown. At his father's advice, Essex enlisted in the United States Navy on January 13, 1969, seeking vocational training and a chance to broaden his horizons.

Navy Experience and Radicalization

Initially, Essex's experience in the Navy was positive. He excelled in his training and was apprenticed as a dental technician specializing in endodontics and periodontics. However, he quickly encountered the racial discrimination prevalent among the white servicemen. Despite forming a close friendship with his white supervisor, Lieutenant Robert Hatcher, Essex's experiences of bigotry left a profound impact. He often wrote to his mother about the challenging racial relations, contrasting them with his experiences in Emporia.

Essex silently endured the discrimination, believing he would receive better treatment upon achieving a higher rank. He eventually rose to the rank of seaman, but the harassment persisted, leading him to take sedatives to cope. His friendship with Rodney Frank, a self-described black militant, further influenced Essex's views. Frank introduced him to the writings of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, founders of the Black Panther Party, which contributed to Essex's growing radicalization.

A confrontation with a white NCO in August 1970 marked a significant turning point. Essex's altercation increased the harassment he faced, and he ultimately went absent without leave (AWOL) on October 19, 1970, seeking solace back home in Emporia. During his time AWOL, he expressed bitterness and growing hatred towards the white race, much to the concern of his family.

Return and Discharge

Despite his family's attempts to reason with him, Essex's animosity towards the Navy and white servicemen continued to fester. He eventually returned to Imperial Beach, explaining his reasons for desertion to Lieutenant Hatcher. In the subsequent hearing, Hatcher defended Essex, highlighting the racial discrimination he endured. The judge acknowledged these factors, sentencing Essex to 30 days' restriction to base and a forfeiture of $90 in pay. However, this leniency did little to ease Essex's resentment.

On February 11, 1971, at the age of 21, Essex received a general discharge from the Navy for general unsuitability. This experience further embittered him, leading him to explore Black Panther ideology more deeply. He adopted the name "Mata" and embraced extremist literature, including the 1968 book "Black Rage."

New Orleans and Escalation

In late April 1971, Essex returned to Emporia before abruptly leaving for Louisiana in August of that year. Although the exact reason for his relocation remains unknown, it is believed he sought to reconnect with Rodney Frank. Essex moved several times before settling in a two-room apartment at 2619 Dryades Street in New Orleans in November 1972. There, he witnessed the poverty in the city's housing projects, further fueling his anger.

Essex enrolled in a federally funded program, Total Community Action (TCA), where he excelled in vending machine repair. He also undertook African studies, memorizing terms and dialects and daubing hate slogans in multiple languages on his apartment walls. By the summer of 1972, Essex acquired a Colt .38-caliber revolver, leading an increasingly solitary and depressed existence.

In September 1972, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) formed the Felony Action Squad, authorizing officers to shoot to kill if threatened. The following month, Essex visited his family in Emporia, displaying an upbeat demeanor that belied his inner turmoil.

The Catalyst

On November 16, 1972, Essex learned of a tragic event that would serve as the catalyst for his violent actions. During a campus demonstration at Southern University in Baton Rouge, two African American students, Leonard Douglas Brown and Denver A. Smith, were shot and killed by sheriff's deputies. The incident deeply disturbed Essex, solidifying his belief that the police were oppressive forces against African Americans.

Essex penned a letter to his mother, declaring the white man as his enemy and vowing to fight for his manhood. His resolve to retaliate against the police intensified, culminating in a chilling plan to attack the NOPD on New Year's Eve.

The Sniper Attacks

New Year's Eve 1972

On the night of December 31, 1972, Essex set his plan into motion. Armed with a Ruger .44-caliber semi-automatic carbine, a .38-caliber revolver, ammunition, and various supplies, he positioned himself near the NOPD headquarters. As cadet Bruce Weatherford approached the gatehouse, Essex opened fire, wounding Lieutenant Horace Pérez and killing cadet Alfred Harrell.

Essex fled the scene, evading capture by running across the I-10 expressway and breaking into the Burkart Manufacturing Building. Officers Edwin Hosli Sr. and Harold Blappert responded to the break-in, unaware of the connection to the earlier attack. Essex shot Officer Hosli, who later died from his injuries.

The New Year's Eve attack was just the beginning of Essex's reign of terror. Over the next week, he would strike again, leaving a trail of chaos and bloodshed in his wake.

Sources

Mark Essex - Wikipedia

This narrative provides a chilling account of Mark Essex's life, motivations, and the tragic events leading to his deadly actions. Every detail from the original Wikipedia article has been preserved to ensure accuracy and provide a comprehensive understanding of this haunting case.