At the time of the incident, Lawrence William Moore (born October 1955) was a 25-year-old unemployed mill worker from Scio, Oregon.
On May 7, 1981, at 10:30 pm, Moore walked into the crowded Oregon Museum Tavern on Front Street NE during a ladies' night event.
[5] At trial, beginning on October 6, 1981, he pleaded innocent to the murder charges, citing mental disease or defect as a defense; however, he admitted to being the gunman.
Moore stated the reason for the shooting that he was trying to apprehend members of a 'syndicate' of millionaires, Jews and criminals who had been trying to poison him.
Moore was subsequently found guilty of four counts of aggravated murder and sentenced to four life terms in prison.