M On July 18, 1984, a horrifying incident unfolded at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, California, as James Huberty carried out a mass shooting, resulting in tragic consequences.
Just days before the incident, on July 15, Huberty expressed concerns about his mental health to his wife, Etna. Seeking help, he called a San Diego mental health clinic on the morning of July 17, leaving his contact details and expecting a prompt response. However, due to a misunderstanding, his call was categorized as a “non-crisis” inquiry to be handled within 48 hours.
The following day, July 18, Huberty and his family visited the San Diego Zoo, during which he shared with his wife a sense of hopelessness, stating that society had missed its chance to help him. After a visit to a McDonald’s restaurant in Clairemont, the Huberty family returned home.
In a chilling moment, Huberty told his wife he was “going hunting… hunting for humans” and kissed her goodbye. Carrying a gun, ammunition, and a bundled object, he drove toward a McDonald’s restaurant on San Ysidro Boulevard.
Eyewitnesses reported his erratic movements, including driving toward a supermarket and a U.S. Post Office before arriving at the McDonald’s parking lot. Huberty entered the restaurant and unleashed a violent attack, fatally shooting 21 people and injuring 19 others.
Approximately 77 minutes after the first shots were fired, Huberty was killed by a police sniper. The San Ysidro McDonald’s shooting remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, leaving a lasting impact on the community and prompting discussions about mental health awareness and the prevention of such tragic events.
