New analysis of Kent State recording reveals shooting prep order

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

A new analysis of a 40-year-old audio recording reveals that someone ordered National Guard troops to prepare to fire on students during a deadly Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in 1970, two forensics experts said.

The recording was enhanced and evaluated by New Jersey-based audio experts Stuart Allen and Tom Owen at the request of The Plain Dealer newspaper. Both concluded that they hear someone shout, “Guard!” Seconds later, a voice yells, “All right, prepare to fire!”

“Get down!” someone shouts, presumably in the crowd. A voice then says, “Guard!...” followed two seconds later by a booming volley of gunshots.

Four Kent State students were killed, and nine were wounded.

“I think this is a major development,” said Alan Canfora, who was shot and wounded in the right wrist during the protest May 4, 1970. Canfora, who has long believed that the troops were ordered to fire, located a copy of the tape in a library archive in 2007 and has urged that it be professionally reviewed.

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