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This episode explores the harrowing crime wave of the early 1970s in Dayton, Ohio, committed by Neil Bradley Long, who became known as the Shotgun Slayer. Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson trace the racial tensions surrounding the 1966 Dayton Race Riot and detail the sequence of random drive-by shootings targeting African-American residents. The narrative culminates in Long's September 1975 arrest for the murder of Dr. Charles Glatt, a sociologist appointed to create a desegregation plan for Dayton public schools. The hosts examine how the assassination of Dr. Glatt ultimately connected Long to a string of at least 21 attacks, four to seven deaths, and numerous injuries across the city.
The episode focuses on the chilling randomness of the shotgun attacks, where victims standing on sidewalks or using phone booths were targeted by a motorist with a 12-gauge shotgun. The hosts detail the extensive fear that gripped Dayton and the difficulties law enforcement faced while juggling up to 100 homicides a year. They also outline Dr. Glatt's impressive career in educational integration across multiple states, his awareness of the constant threats against his life, and the shocking lack of security at the federal office building where he was shot dead. What makes this episode gripping is its deep dive into a lesser-known serial shooter whose violent rampage was explicitly driven by extremist opposition to school desegregation.
Hosts open the show and promote ShipStation’s peak‑season fulfillment services.
The hosts introduce the episode, thank Patreon supporters, and preview upcoming stories.
Recounting Long’s fatal shooting of the desegregation expert and the motive behind it.
Discussion of the 1966 Dayton Race Riot and segregation’s impact on the city.
Chronology of the initial shootings, victims, and investigative challenges.
Police efforts, informants, and the eventual capture of Long and associates.
Exploring Long’s beliefs about desegregation and his justification for violence.
Hosts conclude part one, hint at deeper dives in part two, and share a voicemail.
The Shotgun Slayer Terrorinsight
In the early 1970s, an unknown killer terrorized Dayton by randomly targeting African-American residents on the west side with a shotgun, resulting in 21 attacks.
The 1966 Dayton Race Riot erupted following the drive-by shooting of 40-year-old Lester Mitchell. The riot lasted 24 hours, required 1,000 National Guardsmen, and caused $250,000 in property damage.
Eddie Friesen survived the first confirmed shotgun attack on August 21, 1972, when a motorist fired into a phone booth while he talked to his girlfriend.
On July 15, 1975, a sniper killed two men and wounded a woman in a series of separate shotgun attacks within a single day.
Dr. Glatt's Integration Workinsight
Dr. Charles Glatt was a sociologist and leading expert in desegregation busing programs who developed integration plans across 18 different states.
Assassination at the Officestory
Neil Bradley Long entered Dr. Glatt's federal office, asked if he was Mr. Glatt, stated God was making him do it, and fired multiple shots.
Motive of Desegregation Oppositioninsight
Following his arrest, Long confessed he murdered Dr. Glatt because he was outraged by the court-ordered school desegregation program.
“The first confirmed victim was Eddie Friesen.”
“He drew a pistol and fired three shots, paused, fired twice more, paused again, and then fired a final shot.”
“The gunman walked into GLAT's office and asked, 'Are you Mr. GLAT?'”
“He believed this would cause conflicts, a higher crime rate, result in his 12-year-old son Mark being physically assaulted by African-American students.”
In the early 1970s, Dayton, Ohio, was terrorized by a gunman who became known as the “Shotgun Slayer.” African American residents on the city’s west side were seemingly targeted at random, leaving multiple people dead and many others wounded. For years, police struggled to identify the person responsible. Then, in September 1975, Neal Bradley Long walked into a federal building and murdered Dr. Charles Glatt, a sociologist tasked with developing a desegregation plan for Dayton’s public schools. Join Mike and Gibby for part 1 of 2 on Neal Bradley Long. Long’s arrest would soon connect him to at least 21 attacks against African Americans between 1972 and 1975. In Part 1, we examine the shootings attributed to the Shotgun Slayer, the fear they created throughout Dayton, the murder of Dr. Glatt, and how investigators finally identified Neal Bradley Long as the man behind the violence. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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