Voting Station

Mark James Robert Essex

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Murderer

The Resume

    (August 12, 1949-January 7, 1973)
    Nickname was Mata
    Nickname by the police and press was The Howard Johnson's Sniper
    Shot three New Orleans cops December 31, 1972 with a Ruger .44 Magnum carbine rifle (one died immediately, one died two months later, the third was wounded)
    Used the same rifle to wound a grocer January 7, 1973, then drove to the downtown New Orleans Howard Johnson's Hotel
    Inside and outside the hotel killed three cops (including the New Orleans Deputy Police Chief) and wounded three others
    Also killed four civilians (including the general and assistant managers of the hotel) and wounded three others

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of Kansas State College after one semester.
    He joined the New York City chapter of the Black Panther Party.
    Just before the Howard Johnson shootings he hijacked a car from a black man, stating, 'I don't want to kill you, I'm just killing honkies today, but I will kill you, too.'
    After shooting a couple on the 18th floor, he threw an African flag by their bodies and set fire to the room.
    He set more fires on several different floors, shot more civilians inside the hotel and police and rescue workers with sniper fire.
    Some spectators cheered when he shot at the cops.
    A Coast Guard helicopter assisted cops, pinned him on the roof and shot him dead as he screamed obscenities.
    A letter penned by him (stating 'Africa greets you') was sent to a TV station, warning of a cop attack but not immediately opened.
    The battle was carried on live TV and viewed by 12-year-old Louisiana native John Allen Muhammad.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He joined the U.S. Navy, became a dental assistant and studied to become a dentist.
    He experienced racial bigotry in the navy.
    After he was gunned down, he had to be 'scooped up' - his autopsy revealed he sustained more than 200 gunshot wounds.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 91.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 28 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 28 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 32 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 27 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 23 Votes: 73.91% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 95 Votes: 64.21% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 98 Votes: 68.37% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 98 Votes: 75.51% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 132 Votes: 77.27% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 166 Votes: 71.08% Annoying