Donald Michael Mike Merrill was 48 when he was killed on July 1, 1993, in the 101 California Street mass shooting in San Francisco. The shooter, Gian Luigi Ferri, entered the downtown office tower armed with two TEC-9 handguns and a .45 semi-automatic pistol and opened fire on the 34th floor. Merrill was one of eight people who died that day; six others were wounded. Merrill’s specific reason for being in the building is not stated.

Ferri, who had a long-standing grievance against the law firm Pettit & Martin, died by a self-inflicted wound as police closed in. In the aftermath, families of victims, including Merrill’s, pursued litigation against weapon manufacturers and sellers, arguing those parties should have known the guns were inappropriate for lawful use. The shooting influenced legal and legislative discussion around gun sales and violence.

If anyone knew Donald Merrill or has information about his life and why he was at 101 California Street that day, please share what you can.