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Crime & Justice • Mass Shooting

Brenda Spencer

Brenda Spencer is an American convicted murderer known for the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego, California.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brenda Spencer is an American convicted murderer known for the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego, California. She was 16 years old at the time of the attack, which killed two adults and injured eight children and a police officer. She was convicted as an adult and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Background

Brenda Ann Spencer was born in San Diego, California, in 1962. Public sources identify her birth name as Brenda Ann Spencer and describe her as a teenager living near Grover Cleveland Elementary School at the time of the shooting.

1979 school shooting

On January 29, 1979, Spencer fired from her home at children and school staff outside Grover Cleveland Elementary School. Two adults were killed and nine people were wounded, including children and a police officer.

Trial and sentence

Spencer was prosecuted as an adult and later pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. She was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison and remained incarcerated as of 2026.

Public impact

The case drew wide attention in the United States and became linked to the phrase “I don’t like Mondays,” which Spencer reportedly said when asked why she carried out the attack. It is often discussed in histories of school shootings and mass violence.

Key facts

  • Spencer opened fire from her home across the street from Grover Cleveland Elementary School on January 29, 1979.
  • The attack killed principal Burton Wragg and custodian Mike Suchar.
  • Eight children and one police officer were wounded.
  • She was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
  • The case became widely known in connection with the quote, “I don’t like Mondays.”
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Canadian context

The case is studied in Canada as part of the broader history of school shootings, youth violence, and mass-casualty crime in North America.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Brenda Spencer?
Brenda Spencer is an American convicted murderer known for the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego.
What did Brenda Spencer do?
She opened fire from her home across the street from a school, killing two adults and injuring nine other people.
How old was Brenda Spencer during the shooting?
She was 16 years old.
What sentence did Brenda Spencer receive?
She received concurrent sentences of 25 years to life in prison.
Is Brenda Spencer still in prison?
Yes. Public sources indicate she was still incarcerated as of 2026.
Why is Brenda Spencer associated with “I don’t like Mondays”?
The phrase is attributed to her as an explanation for the shooting and became widely associated with the case.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Elementary_School_shooting_(San_Diego)
    Supports: Attack date, victims, conviction, sentence, and incarceration status
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2210663/bio/
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, and biographical details
  3. San Diego Police Museum — http://www.sdpolicemuseum.com/brenda-spencer.html
    Supports: Summary of the shooting, conviction, and sentence
  4. People — https://people.com/teen-shooter-targeted-young-students-across-street-from-home-11896311
    Supports: Overview of the shooting, victims, and parole-related context