I took a criminology class and there was an entire chapter devoted to Whitman.
One thing I recall is Whitman left a message that he wanted to have an autopsy done to see if he had a brain tumor. They did find one and then had the audacity to say it did not contribute to his insanity, if that is what you call it.
In his insane way he used what was probably as deadly a weapon as he could have chosen for his particular job. It was a .264 Winchester Magnum.
I read an article by the Hispanic cop who most credit with taking him out. He said that Texas students got their own guns out of their pickups and began shooting back.
He stated categorically that Whitman did not kill any more as he was kept down by the students fire. The media tried to make the armed students out as stupid yahoos.
Whitman used a Remington 700 in 6mm caliber.
[It was a .264 Winchester Magnum]
There’s a rare cartridge. Phenomenal at long range.
As big as a walnut, IIRC.
Apparently this was later revised. A commission of top-flight experts re-examined the tumor and concluded it cold have contributed to Whitman's actions, but the science of the time could not say for sure. It would be interesting if this could be looked at again in the light of new knowledge of the brain that has been gained in the last 50 years.
Wikipedia points out that Whitman gave warning of what might happen:
"Whitman met with Maurice Dean Heatly, the staff psychiatrist at the University of Texas Health Center, on March 29, 1966. Whitman referred to his visit with Heatly in his final suicide note. He said, "I talked with a Doctor once for about two hours and tried to convey to him my fears that I felt come [sic] overwhelming violent impulses. After one visit, I never saw the Doctor again, and since then have been fighting my mental turmoil alone, and seemingly to no avail."...
Dr. Heatly's notes on the visit reflected Whitman's own comments about feeling hostility:
"This massive, muscular youth seemed to be oozing with hostility [...] that something seemed to be happening to him and that he didn't seem to be himself.
Dr. Heatly also referred to a statement by Whitman:
"He readily admits having overwhelming periods of hostility with a very minimum of provocation. Repeated inquiries attempting to analyze his exact experiences were not too successful with the exception of his vivid reference to 'thinking about going up on the tower with a deer rifle and start shooting people'."
There was a rumor about a tumor
Nestled at the base of his brain.
He was sittin’ up there with a .36 magnum,
Laughin’ wildly as he bagged ‘em.
Who are we to say the boy’s insane?
— The Ballad of Charles Whitman, by Kinky Friedman and his Texas Jewboys
I might have misquoted a word or two, but it’s probably on Youtube somewhere, if anyone wants to check.