'77 Minutes' Examines 1984 McDonald's Massacre

A film examining the deadly massacre at a San Ysidro McDonald’s will debut in San Diego next month.

Twenty-one people were killed and 19 others were injured on July 18, 1984 - in what was, for a time, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States.

Charlie Minn, a noted documentary filmmaker based in New York, has been working on a chilling account of that day in San Ysidro, entitled "77 Minutes."

The film's title refers to the often criticized time it took for SWAT to take down the shooter.

β€œThis was a mad man,” Minn said on Sunday's Politically Speaking with Gene Cubbison. β€œHe shot babies, he shot children, he shot pregnant women.”

The film includes rare and disturbing crime scene footage from inside the restaurant.

"I think the public needs to see how truly bad this was to start a movement that we just cannot be having these things anymore," Minn said.

He also interviewed victims and law enforcement officers including former San Diego Chief of Police Jerry Sanders.

β€œThe victims to this day are furious that it took 77 minutes,” Minn said.

Sanders talks about the challenges faced by law enforcement ranging from the sun glare on the windows to a malfunctioning pager.

By eliminating any mention of the shooter in the film or the promotion, the director hopes to inspire other media to follow his example when it comes to coverage of future shootings.

The film opens at the Ultrastar Mission Valley on Sept. 23. Minn said he's looking for a place to screen the movie in San Ysidro.

More than 30 years ago, a massacre at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro became the largest massacre in modern U.S. history, but only for a while. Charlie Minn, a noted documentary filmmaker based in New York, has been working on a chilling account of that day in San Ysidro, titled “77 Minutes.” The film will debut theatrically in San Diego...

He plans to donate part of the proceeds to funds of fallen Officer Jonathan β€œJD” DeGuzman and his wounded partner Officer Wade Irwin. The two officers were gunned down in July while patrolling the Southcrest section of San Diego.

Contact Us