Murder Ballads: I Don’t Like Mondays

In 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer opened fire on an elementary school across from her home in San Diego, killing two adults and injuring several children and a police officer. When asked why, her chilling response — “I don’t like Mondays” — would later inspire the Boomtown Rats song and cement this case in public memory.

In this episode, we break down the timeline of the shooting, her background, the warning signs leading up to that day, and the disturbing contradictions in her statements over time. We also examine what this case reveals about early behavioral red flags, access to weapons, and how violence can emerge without a clear, rational motive.