Huey Long, the charismatic and controversial former Governor and U.S. Senator from Louisiana, was assassinated by Carl Weiss in a hallway ambush at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge on September 8, 1935.
According to the most widely accepted account, the events unfolded rapidly:
The Assassination Event
- Context: The attack occurred shortly after Long had successfully pushed a bill through the Louisiana legislature to gerrymander the district of Judge Benjamin Henry Pavy, a political opponent. Carl Weiss was Judge Pavy's son-in-law.
- The Ambush: As Long walked through a hallway of the Capitol building, Weiss confronted him.
- The Shooting: Weiss shot Long in the chest at close range.
- Immediate Aftermath: Long's bodyguards reacted instantly, shooting Weiss multiple times and killing him on the spot.
- Long's Fate: Though initially believed to be only grazed, Long's injury was severe. He was rushed to a hospital but died two days later, on September 10, 1935, from internal bleeding.
The assassination remains a significant and debated moment in American political history, with some alternative theories about the exact sequence of events and who fired the fatal shot at Long, though the Weiss-as-assassin theory is predominant.
Key Individuals Involved
| Individual | Role |
|---|---|
| Huey P. Long | U.S. Senator, former Governor of Louisiana |
| Carl Austin Weiss | Alleged assassin, son-in-law of Judge B.H. Pavy |
| Ben H. Pavy | Louisiana Judge, political opponent whose district was gerrymandered |
| Long's Bodyguards | Shot Carl Weiss immediately after Long was shot |
For further details on the events surrounding his death, you can refer to historical accounts of the Assassination of Huey Long.
