Via email from Dr. Roy Spencer:
Shots fired at Christy/Spencer building
FYI, apparently sometime after a March for Science went past our building at UAH, 7 shots were fired and hit the floor John Christy is on. (I’m in a different part of the same building). No witnesses. I’m assuming late night Saturday or Sunday.
It seems pretty obvious this was a message being sent. If fired from a pistol, all shots hitting the same floor seems to suggest deliberate aim.
I doubt any media have covered it yet. I doubt the police have even written a report yet. From what I’ve heard, it sounds like the police believe the shots were fired from a passing car, and some shell casings were recovered, as well as fragments of bullets inside the building. You can quote me.
The office of the state climatologist (Dr. John Christy) is in building 7

We’ll update as this story develops.
UPDATE1: Dr. Spencer writes on his blog:
A total of seven shots were fired into our National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) building here at UAH over the weekend.
All bullets hit the 4th floor, which is where John Christy’s office is (my office is in another part of the building).
Given that this was Earth Day weekend, with a March for Science passing right past our building on Saturday afternoon, I think this is more than coincidence. When some people cannot argue facts, they resort to violence to get their way. It doesn’t matter that we don’t “deny global warming”; the fact we disagree with its seriousness and the level of human involvment in warming is enough to send some radicals into a tizzy.
Our street is fairly quiet, so I doubt the shots were fired during Saturday’s march here. It was probably late night Saturday or Sunday for the shooter to have a chance of being unnoticed.
Maybe the “March For Science” should have been called the “March To Silence”.
UPDATE2: Dr. Spencer writes via email:
Local news reports that UAH police have classified this as a “random shooting”. So, the seven Belgian 5.7 millimeter bullets which hit windows and bricks around John Christy’s office from 70 yards away were apparently deemed to be “random” occurrence. (Despite my personal defense training, I probably would have struggled to get that tight a “random” cluster with a semi-automatic pistol.) News story:Nothing to see here, move along.
Marc Morano notes:
Imagine if there had been a big skeptics March near Penn State and Michael Mann’s offices had similar type “random” shooting. Would the media and Mann have said nothing to see here?
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This is totally unacceptable. A plain case of attempted intimidation. What’s the difference between this and Terrorism?
The Secret Service uses or did both weapons. Is also a favorite of Mexican drug gangs. At few years ago you could buy a Five-Seven for $900 and sell south of border for $5000 (supposedly). Ammo at a local Alabama sporting good store runs about $23 for 50 rounds, last time I looked.
Shoots flat, with an Aimpoint sight this is doable.
First, 5.7×28 is not a joke of a cartridge. Please see the Fort Hood shootings. It is a legitimate anti-personnel cartridge. Further, as previously noted, it is an uncommon, and relatively expensive cartridge. The two firearms I know of chambered for the round are also relatively expensive. I would be interested in the composition of the retrieved bullet fragments. If aluminum, it may well indicate an element of premeditation in seeking penetration into the building.
Second, 7 rounds hitting the same floor at 70 yards would eliminate, in my mind, any kind of drive-by approach. It would, in my mind, require an extraordinary talent to pull that off with a rifle at 15-30 mph, never mind a pistol. So either a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist with a likely stop, possible dismount.
Shooting at that range, with a rest, or prone position, it should be possible to achieve those hits on a given floor with a pistol. Off a car door, or resting on the hood or roof of a car, I’d say eminently doable. Given the relative scarcity of the P90, and desirability of easy concealment, I’d guess pistol. Knowing grouping of shots would further narrow to either P90 or pistol.
Shooting at a given floor would indicate a fairly narrow focus of resentment, in my mind. This would further narrow the pool to people with enough knowledge of staff on a given floor to target their work environment. Probably male, given the use of firearm. Unable to say more about motivation, though.
I’d say check traffic cameras, specifically look for vehicles that complete transit of the area in a significantly longer period of time, say an additional 1-2 minutes. Should narrow the pool. I’d say pedestrian or cyclist probably less likely, they’d want to clear the area quickly.
Just my speculation, a fun thought problem.
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Black Psyops, cool.
You think shotting at scientists is “cool” ???
..(shooting) ….D’oh !!
This is just outrageous.
Drs Spencer and Christy; thank you for your contributions to science. Of course I hope you will take all precautions. I honestly had no idea the risks you were taking in your work but I’d like you to know that I, for one, thank you for your efforts and now, more than ever, appreciate your sacrifice and the sacrifices made by your families.
Reblogged this on Climatism and commented:
The radical, intolerant, violent Left…
“When some people cannot argue facts, they resort to violence to get their way. It doesn’t matter that we don’t “deny global warming”; the fact we disagree with its seriousness and the level of human involvment in warming is enough to send some radicals into a tizzy.”
As Marc Morano correctly notes: imagine the outrage if Michael Mann’s office was shot at during a “sceptics” march!
A disturbing development, though sadly not surprising as the radical Left elevates its violent oppression, worldwide, to any dissenting belief that doesn’t fit with its own.
It really is outrageous that they are not looking further into it. Death threats are definitely something to be taken seriously.
Brings to mind a Facebook post of a crazy leftist in a hoody attacking a pro Trump supporter – posted by a professional union guy I am Facebook ‘friend with – it was posted with evident glee and the same video would have evinced outrage if the tables had been turned and the leftist had been the victim.
Totally unacceptable.
It’s time to address Trump directly because he promised to make the USA safe again.
Just take his word on that and find the coward freak who fired the bullets.
Don’t let them get away with this.
People need to go back and read/watch Eisenhower’s farewell speech. It is all coming true.
Climate “Science” on Trial; The Prophet Eisenhower Warned Us About Climate Scientists
https://co2islife.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/climate-science-on-trial-eisenhower-warned-us-about-climate-scientists/
Here is a clip of the Eisenhower speech used in a global warming documentary. The entire documentary is worth watching and was/is very prophetic.
https://youtu.be/QowL2BiGK7o?t=1h2m6s
Seven bullets fired at a building, and instantly everyone knows
a) that it was aimed at Christy or Spencer
b) that it was designed to intimidate
c) the perpetrator must be a global warming supporter
d) the perpetrator must be a left-wing ideologue
Now I don’t doubt that anyone in that building can and should be worried about “random” shootings at a building, but on the basis of the same evidence:
1. It could be a spurned lover, wife or husband
2. It could be someone who is mentally ill
3. It could be a “false flag” operation by an armed climate skeptic
4. It could be random
On the basis of evidence
i) none hit a window from 70 yards
ii) no-one saw the shooting
iii) the bullets were fired when almost nobody would have been in the building
iv) the bullets were clustered together indicating aim.
If you’re going to intimidate someone inside a building then the least you could do is make sure a) that the intended victim was in the building and b) that you hit a window not just the brickwork.
That’s the problem with climate science – everyone thinks they know something for a fact without any actual facts.
And the commenters on this blog too.
a) It wasn’t aimed at Christy or Spencer
It was deliberately aimed at the 4th floor where Dr Spencer and Dr Christy work.(don’t forget the”Dr”as these two highly educate men deserve the respect) and likely by someone that didn’t know exactly where their offices are.
b) That it was designed to intimidate.
As are most all forms of terrorism designed to intimidate
c) The perpetrator must be a global warming supporter
certainly a terrorist by any measure
d) the perpetrator must be a left-wing ideologue
As the old magic 8 ball would say…Signs point to yes
1) It could be a spurned lover, wife or husband
possible if they were married to a left wing fanatic pro AGWer but unlikely the reason for the shots
2) it could be someone that is mentally ill
disturbed at the very least, Liberalism is a Mental Disorder
3) it could be a “false flag” operation by an armed climate skeptic
kudos for “climate skeptic” 3% possibility you are correct, 97% probability it is an unthinking, unbalanced, mentally deficient liberal ideologue that planned it for the day of the event for the political meaning it would carry. “Political Terrorist”
4) it could be random
It could be an invisible Pink Unicorn poking holes with its horn, or the Easter Bunny propelling candy out it’s arse at terminal velocity, or sideways traveling clear day hail striking the wall.
Open your eyes!
It happened at the office of 2 prominent Climate Scientists who are openly skeptical
on the day of the largest Pro AGW March
which passed directly in front of their office.
We’ve already seen what Pro AGWers did in Berkeley
BTW, when the bullets were fired, almost anyone could have been in the building.
If a gun fires in a climate alarmist delusion, and nobody is there, does it make a sound?
If a fact falls on a climate alarmist’s awareness, does it make an impact?
No quandary there — of course, it does NOT !
… because nobody is there.
“UAH Police found seven spent Belgian 5.7 millimeter bullet casings along Sparkman Drive. Garner says three bullets pierced building windows, the other four were lodged into the side of the building.
The incident was reported after staff inside the NSSTC found broken windows Monday morning.”
John A — sorry, I’ve run the Global Casing Models several times, none of them can replicate a shooting at the office of a prominent skeptic on Earth Day without the presence of ecowarriors.
We can’t definitively rule out coincidence, or that the bullets and casing spontaneously came into existence where they were found, but when you factor in the date and the relatively tiny amount of small arms fire directed at any particular floors of state offices, it becomes rather long coincidence.
…WRONG !!! Four penetrated a window, which is how they knew they had a problem. Second, they fired at night, when there is no one there, because it decreases the chance of them being caught !! D’OH !!
Of course it’s as likely that it was a right winger shooting up a building named for a prominent local democratic politician that he didn’t like?
The “People’s Climate Mobilization” this Saturday (April 29) now has the slogans of:
WE RESIST.
WE BUILD.
WE RISE.
WE SHOOT.
Ok, that last one isn’t actually said. You know they are thinking it though. Ends justify the means, after all.
How many people know which offices are occupied by Christy and Spencer ?? Inside help was required….Drain The Swamp !!!
I’ve never been to the UAH campus, so it may be different there, but at the universities that I have been to, they often have directories in the lobby that list office numbers. Professors also often give out their office number and office hours to the student’s in the classes that they teach.
No need to assume an insider.
JC’s office is available on line in a searchable directory for UAH faculty and staff, as is usual these days. Hope this info doesn’t lead to more attacks, when the building is occupied.
Can we calm down here please? The worst that happened was that some nut case shot at a window because he (she) doesn’t like Roy or John. Trying to expand this incident into a good vs. evil event is over the top.
If people want to use this to expound on their opinion on climate change and other metaphysical issues, then so be it. But I don’t have to read it. Does anyone other than me get tired of talking about this and endlessly rehashing the issues?
And I really can’t blame Roy for talking about it, though it mostly just feeds into this very toxic debate. But if he doesn’t bring it up, someone else would and we would have the above discussion nevertheless.
This kind of crap is a complete bore.
..Hmmm, If someone INTENTIONALLY puts 7 bullet holes into YOUR house (from armour piercing bullets), would you still find it “boring” ?
Would I find it boring? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean it should become an incident worthy of several hundred comments – most of which are devoted to prolonging the climate wars.
Btw, thanks for the adblock advice.
And btw, is there a way to view this site without this incessant flow of ad videos and other extraneous stuff. These ads bring my laptop to its knees and I spend a lot of time trying to pause videos. Can flashdrive or shockwave be disabled, or is that the problem?
Simply install AdBlock Plus ..It is fre at CNet…
FREE…time for a new keyboard….
BATF has reversed itself on AR-15 “pistols”, which are really rifles with short barrels and a bracing tube in place of the stock.
http://freebeacon.com/issues/atf-reverses-controversial-stance-shouldering-ar-15-pistols/
This is relevant since a 5.56mm “pistol” truly is high-powered by handgun standards. Short-barreled rifles (under 16″) are subject to tax and registration by the Firearms Act of 1934. The lack of a stock ostensibly makes them pistols rather than carbines, like the M4 (with 14.5″ barrel and telescoping stock) and Vietnam era CAR (15″ barrel, v. 20″ of M16).
I’m all for higher-powered short arms, but IMO they shouldn’t be called pistols.
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=231
That is a rare caliber. Same one used by Major Hassan during his “workplace violence” terror spree at Fort Hood. Could be from the Five Seven pistol or PS carbine. Both are capable of accuracy needed and both easy to use.
Someone has exquisite tastes in terror.
For a man who relies on facts, you sure as hell are stretching this to create a story. First of all, The March wasn’t even close to Cramer Hall/NSSTC. It started about five blocks south and went off campus to the Space and Rocket Center. The shots were fired from Sparkman Drive. The bullets hit in various places. The reason the bullets hit a couple of windows on the 4th floor was because the shooter had a row of trees blocking his view of the lower level. The shooter had to fire over the trees! Christy’s office wasn’t touched. You can’t possibly believe HE was targeted. I think the university police are right on the mark. It looks more random than planned/targeted. Finally, no one has taken any responsibility for the crime. If this was a terrorist act, I think whomever is responsible would brag about it. Stop trying to write fiction.
Doesn’t matter whether the march was down the street or not. The gun was not fired during the march..EVERYONE would have heard it. It probably doesn’t even matter that it was Earth Day weekend.
What matters is 7 shots were fired into our building.
The tree brances are actually blocking the upper floors…the trunks are in the way of the lower floors. I can go out and take a photo if you want proof. All bullets hit near Christy’s office. The floors have continuous windows and even though I’ve worked here 15 years, it would be difficult for me to ID which section of windows were Christy’s office.
The police are now looking more closely at this. This was likely an ecoterror attack, and the FBI should be involved as well.
Al Gore presonally blamed us for the failure of carbon tax legislation, which involves billions if not trillions of dollars. People have been killed for much less. We have many enemies.