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True crime and unsolved mysteries

Hungerford massacre

10 replies

Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 20:52

This BBC documentary came up on my YT feed tonight, I hadn’t seen it before.

Doc is from 2005 and based on what happened at Hungerford, a mass English shooting in 1987.

Watching the BBC documentary tonight and bearing in mind I’m now 54 and was 16 when it happened, I wonder if the (I struggle to find the right word here for him: perpetrator, shooter, both too glamorous) murderer would be considered an incel these days.

I hare this labelling culture btw, but he sticks out as an early example of a angry young (ish) man still living with his mum. I know he just didn’t just kill women thiugh, but he seemed angry at life.

Im prepared to be picked apart but this isn’t AIBU.

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OP posts:
Eifla2o18 · 15/01/2026 20:53

I've also previously questioned this!

Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 20:54

Eifla2o18 · 15/01/2026 20:53

I've also previously questioned this!

Omg really?

OP posts:
Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 20:56

@Eifla2o18 thank you. I feel like I’m seeing it with new (old) eyes

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Eifla2o18 · 15/01/2026 20:58

Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 20:54

Omg really?

Yes. I work in criminal justice and was pondering it with someone a few weeks ago. I don't think I know enough about him though. I was at primary school then.... I'm not sure if we have enough info about him. Though I think the internet really nurtures (?) incels and their ideology. And it obviously wasn't about then. Not sure if he would indulge his beliefs in other ways?

Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 21:07

Eifla2o18 · 15/01/2026 20:58

Yes. I work in criminal justice and was pondering it with someone a few weeks ago. I don't think I know enough about him though. I was at primary school then.... I'm not sure if we have enough info about him. Though I think the internet really nurtures (?) incels and their ideology. And it obviously wasn't about then. Not sure if he would indulge his beliefs in other ways?

Agree there isn’t much known about him, and living at home with your mum wasn’t uncommon then, there was even a comedy series about it (Sorry! starring Ronnie Corbett) although this ridiculed the son in the situation.

OP posts:
Snooks1971 · 15/01/2026 21:09

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry!_(TV_series)

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PermanentTemporary · 15/01/2026 22:00

That was a good documentary.
Incel seems a bit too limited for what was going on with Ryan.

ConstitutionHill · 15/01/2026 22:03

I suppose nowadays we all leave an online trail, search histories etc which build up a picture of what's going on inside the minds of these people. Nothing like that back then, unless he'd left notes or plans.

Eifla2o18 · 16/01/2026 06:25

ConstitutionHill · 15/01/2026 22:03

I suppose nowadays we all leave an online trail, search histories etc which build up a picture of what's going on inside the minds of these people. Nothing like that back then, unless he'd left notes or plans.

You've said exactly what was in my head. So much more succinctly!

Planesmistakenforstars · 16/01/2026 08:33

I don't know if I'd use the word incel, though I know it has a broader meaning than it originally did. But I agree that he fits that mold of angry young-is man who is unsuccessful at life in general, including sexually and socially, and takes that out with violence. I do also recall the first attack was thought to be sexually motivated, and was different to the spree shooting of the other murders.

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