On this day, Jan. 17

1950 The Great Brink’s Robbery took place as seven masked men held up a Brink’s garage in Boston, stealing $1.2 million in cash and $1.5 million in checks and money orders. (Although the entire gang was caught, only part of the loot was recovered.)

1977 Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, was shot by a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the first U.S. execution in a decade.

1994 A 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake struck Southern California, killing at least 60 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

1995 More than 6,000 people were killed when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 devastated the city of Kobe, Japan.

2016 Iran released three Americans, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and pastor Saeed Abedini, as part of a prisoner swap that also netted Tehran some $100 billion in sanctions relief.

2020 U.S. health officials announced that they would begin screening airline passengers from central China for the new coronavirus; people traveling from Wuhan, China, would have their temperature checked and be asked about symptoms. Today’s birthdays: Former FCC chairman Newton N. Minow, 97. Actor James Earl Jones, 92. Talk show host Maury Povich, 84. Actor Jane Elliot (“General Hospital”), 76. Rock musician Mick Taylor, 75. Singer Steve Earle, 68. Singer Paul Young, 67. Actor-comedian Steve Harvey, 66. Singer Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), 64. Actor-comedian Jim Carrey, 61. Former first lady Michelle Obama, 59. Singer Shabba Ranks, 57. Electronic music DJ Tiesto, 54. Rapper Kid Rock, 52.