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Kip Kinkel

Kip Kinkel is an American convicted murderer known for the 1998 Thurston High School shooting in Springfield, Oregon.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kip Kinkel is an American convicted murderer known for the 1998 Thurston High School shooting in Springfield, Oregon. In the attack, he killed two classmates and wounded 25 others; he had killed his parents the day before. He was sentenced to more than 111 years in prison without parole.

Early life

Kipland Philip Kinkel was born on August 30, 1982, in Springfield, Oregon. He was a teenager and a student at Thurston High School at the time of the crimes.

The 1998 killings

On May 20, 1998, Kinkel killed his parents at the family home. The following day, he opened fire in the cafeteria at Thurston High School, killing two students and injuring 25 others.

Kinkel was charged with multiple counts. He pleaded guilty in 1999 to murder and attempted murder, avoiding a trial. He was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Appeals did not change the sentence.

Later status

Public reporting indicates that Kinkel remained incarcerated in Oregon. His case later included references to mental health treatment, including a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Key facts

  • Kinkel was a 15-year-old student at Thurston High School when he carried out the attack in May 1998.
  • He killed his parents at the family home on May 20, 1998, and the next day opened fire at his school.
  • Two students were killed and 25 others were wounded in the school shooting.
  • He pleaded guilty in 1999 to murder and attempted murder, avoiding a trial.
  • He was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Canadian context

The case is widely cited in discussions of school violence, criminal justice, and mental health policy that also interest Canadian readers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kip Kinkel?
He is an American convicted murderer best known for the 1998 Thurston High School shooting in Oregon.
What happened in the Thurston High School shooting?
Kinkel opened fire at Thurston High School on May 21, 1998, killing two students and wounding 25 others.
Did he kill anyone before the school shooting?
Yes. He killed his parents at the family home the day before the school shooting.
What was Kip Kinkel sentenced to?
He was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
Where is Kip Kinkel held?
Sources report that he has been incarcerated in Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem.
Was mental illness raised in the case?
Yes. Later reporting says he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and treated with antipsychotic medication.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Thurston_High_School_shooting
    Supports: Basic facts about the shooting, victims, guilty plea, sentence, and incarceration
  2. PBS Frontline — https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kinkel/cron.html
    Supports: Chronology of the killings, charges, guilty plea, and school shooting details
  3. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kinkel-kip
    Supports: Birth date, identity, crimes, and sentence
  4. PBS Frontline — https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/fourteen-years-later-looking-back-at-a-school-shooting/
    Supports: Summary of the killings and sentence
  5. KLCC — https://www.klcc.org/crime-law-justice/2021-06-12/kip-kinkel-speaks-out-in-huffpost-exclusive
    Supports: Later reporting on mental health references, imprisonment, and historical context