Jan Rost was one of the two attackers of the Jedi Temple bombing. His best friend was Todd Wilson.
Early Life[]
Jan Rost was born on an unknown world. The Rost family relocated often as Jan's father was a Republic transport pilot. His mother, was a civil servant. The family moved from the planet to Coruscant in 30 BBY, when Jan's father retired from military service.
The Rost family lived in rented accommodations for the first three years that they lived near the Jedi Temple. During this time Jan met Todd Wilson just as both of their potential was recognized by the Jedi Council. In 27 BBY, the Rost family purchased a house south of the Jedi Temple. Jan's older brother attended college at the University of Coruscant.
Jedi Temple[]
Rost and Wilson were Padawans at the Jedi Temple. Rost and Wilson were unpopular and frequent targets of bullying at the Temple. They eventually began to bully the students that bullied them; Rost and Wilson had written journal entries about how they themselves had bullied those that bullied them in retaliation.
Bombing[]
First Bomb[]
Early in the morning, Rost and Wilson set up a fire bomb near the Senate building as a diversion. The bomb detonated, starting a fire and distracting Coruscant Police and firefighters as the deadly duo approached the Jedi Temple.
Second Bomb[]
At 11:18 a.m., one minute late than scheduled, two explosions were heard from the Jedi Temple. Half of the rescuers heading to the scene of the boys' fire turned back and headed toward the Temple. Jedi and parents of the Jedi students within the community also began rushing to the Jedi's holy home.
When the Library bombs detonated, 545 Jedi were killed. Then Rost and Wilson armed themselves with their weapons and met at the staircase.
The North Wing of the Jedi Library had collapsed, killing and trapping many Jedi.
Cole Kroger attacks Jan Rost.
When the survivors came out screaming, Rost and Wilson sprayed the entire horde with blaster fire, killing 23. Seven of the victims were cut down by lightsabers. Cole Kroger and Chris Domain came out of the Jedi Temple. The latter wounded, Kroger attacked Rost in a ferocious duel after Force Pushing Wilson off his feet and 30 feet away.
Though Rost was fully rested and not hindered by the explosions as Kroger was, he was driven back. Although Kroger was a formidable opponent, Wilson recovered and helped Rost cut him down. The last thing Kroger saw until his recovery in the Hall of Healing was Wilson pointed his shotgun at him and saying "Let me help you". Kroger was shot but miraculously survived.
Suicide[]
The mass murderers made their way to the Jedi Council Chamber Room, killing 16. After Rost committed suicide with his lightsaber through the mouth, Todd realized what he had done and sat there weeping in remorse.
Chris Domain, although critically wounded, tried to reason with Todd and convince him to surrender, promising that life would get better and the pain would fade away. After a few minutes of talking, Todd, overcome with remorse, shot himself in the heart. Chris bled to death before either of them could be taken to the hospital.
Third Bomb[]
Two booby trap bombs left by Rost and Wilson a few yards from the stairs of the Temple detonated when Coruscant Security passed by the motion sensors connected to the bombs. 44 officers and two Jedi were killed.
Aftermath[]
Motivations[]
A journal found in Rost' bedroom contained almost every detail that the boys planned to follow after 5:00 a.m. on March 4, 24 BBY. In journal entries, the pair often wrote about events such as the Great Sith War, Battle of Naboo (32 BBY), and other similar events, including blurbs and notes on how they wished to "outdo" these events. They mentioned how they would like to leave a lasting impression on the galaxy with this kind of violence. That the shooters initially planned to blow up the Temple, and not just shoot students, is an indication of how they instead wished to overshadow the events that had occurred.
Rost's rifle.
Some people, such as Padmé Amidala, who knew the perpetrators, initially stated that the pair was not obsessed with Imperialism or Darksidism nor did they worship or admire the Sith in any way, although the attack occurred on Sith Empire's birthday, as was speculated early on by the media. Amidala stated that in retrospect, there were many things the pair did not tell friends. In his journal, Rost mentioned his admiration of what he imagined to be natural selection and wrote that he would like to put everyone in a super violent game and see to it that the weak die and the strong live. On the day of the massacre, Rost wore a white T-shirt with the words "NATURAL SELECTION" printed in black.
Rost's shotgun.
Bullying[]
Early stories following the shootings charged that Temple administrators and teachers at Coruscant had long condoned a climate of bullying by the so-called jocks or athletes or arrogant Jedi students, allowing an atmosphere of outright intimidation and resentment to fester which, they claimed, could have helped trigger the perpetrators' extreme violence. Reportedly, homophobic remarks were directed at Wilson and Rost.
In Rost's journal, he wrote about the bullying he received: "Everyone is always making fun of me because of how I look, how kriffing weak I am and shavit, well I will get you all back: ultimate kriffing revenge here. you people could have shown more respect, treated me better, asked for my knowledge or guidance more, treated me more like the Jedi I am, and maybe I wouldn't have been so ready to tear your kriffing heads off" and "Whatever I do people make fun of me, and sometimes directly to my face. I'll get revenge soon enough. Kriffers shouldn't have ripped on me so much huh!"
Friends of Rost and Wilson stated that the two boys were constantly picked on, including that a "cup of fecal matter" was thrown at them.
Psychopathy[]
You have anger and homicidality on one side, (Rost) and depression and suicidality (Wilson), an emotion, coming together and led to a fatal friendship.
—A psychologist on the two killers.
Investigators diagnosed Jan Rost with severe anti-social disorders, a psychopath and filled with hate and anger. People who knew Jan claimed his anger was caused by being an outcast, bullying and abuse by his alcoholic father. His mother tried to help, but Rost's anger at his father pushed her away.
Bigger Scheme[]
Rost's destructive dream.
Rost's journal revealed that if he and Wilson somehow, "out of some shavit of luck" survived the massacre, they would tap into their powers, using the dark side, and bring down an entire starship on the city of Coruscant.