On this day: October 1
Villagers Report Shadowy Figures Walking Streets After Dark
Residents of a small village say shadow-like figures have been seen moving along lanes at night since October 1, 1996; authorities investigated but offered no definitive explanation. Accounts vary and remain unverified.
1992 Classroom Shooting at California Elementary School Kills Child, Wounds Others
On October 1, 1992, a fatal shooting at an elementary school in California left one student dead and others injured, prompting statewide attention to school safety and gun access. Details and investigations followed as communities sought answers and policy responses.
Spain legalizes same-sex marriage amid large protests
On October 1, 2005, Spain’s parliament approved a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt, making Spain the third country to legalize same-sex marriage; the reform prompted large demonstrations both supporting and opposing the change.
Federal operations halt as Congress fails to pass budget, triggering 2013 government shutdown
On October 1, 2013, the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown after Congress did not enact continuing appropriations; many nonessential federal services paused while debates over funding and policy continued.
Gunman opens fire from Las Vegas hotel, killing dozens at outdoor music festival
On October 1, 2017, a shooter firing from a high-rise hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas opened fire on a crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
People's Republic of China proclaimed as Communist Party assumes state control
On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, marking the Chinese Communist Party's consolidation of state power after years of civil war and the retreat of the Republic of China government to Taiwan.