On January 17 , 1989 , the Stockton Police Department received a threat against Cleveland Elementary School from an unknown person . Later that day , Patrick Purdy , who was later found to be mentally ill , opened fire on the school 's playground with a semi-automatic rifle , killing five children , all Cambodian or Vietnamese refugees , and wounding 29 others , and a teacher , before taking his own life . The Cleveland Elementary School shooting received national news coverage and is sometimes referred to as the Cleveland School massacre
Cleveland Elementary School shooting
Cleveland Elementary School shooting (Stockton)
Stockton, California