This is the true story of Laurie Dann who went into an elementary school on May 20, 1988 in Winnetka, Illinois and shot and killed one boy and wounded two girls. She then entered a nearby home and took the family hostage. After shooting another man who lived in the home (who recovered and went on to become a lawyer and then an FBI agent) she took her own life in an upstairs bedroom.
Laurie Dann's only fatality during her shooting spree was 8-year old Nicky Crowin. After his death, the school sent home his papers and drawings. Included was a short story that Nicky had written. It was the story of a dog that was shooting people. The dog's name was "Dirty Dan" and the victim's name was "Mickey". Nicky also drew a picture of his mother with a bubble coming out of her mouth. In the bubble was the question "where is my son?"
Laurie Dann wounded 2 girls and 3 boys not counting Nicky Corwin who died.
Second of two TV biopics starring Valerie Bertinelli in which Millie Perkins plays the focal character's mother, the first being Shattered Vows (1984).