Mark Essex was born on December 8, 1949, in Kansas. He grew up in a troubled household, with his parents being heavily involved in civil rights activism. Despite this, Essex struggled academically and socially, often feeling isolated from his peers.
After graduating high school, Essex enlisted in the U.S. Navy and trained as a dental technician. During his time in the Navy, he began to exhibit signs of mental instability, which went unchecked by his superiors.
After leaving the Navy, Essex struggled to find stable employment and drifted between jobs. His mental health continued to deteriorate, and he became increasingly paranoid and delusional. In a disturbing turn of events, Essex's apartment was found covered in anti-white graffiti, pointing to his deep-seated racial biases.
In January 1973, Essex carried out one of the deadliest attacks on police officers in American history. He went on a killing spree in New Orleans, targeting innocent civilians and law enforcement officers alike. The city was paralyzed with fear as Essex evaded capture, engaging in a violent shootout with police in a hotel lobby.
Despite the passage of time, the memory of Mark Essex and his heinous acts continue to haunt the city of New Orleans and serve as a grim reminder of the destructive power of prejudice and extremism.