Gunman kills 11 in South Alabama shooting spree

[Brent]

Very sad

Multiple people were shot and killed Tuesday in south Alabama during a shooting spree that spanned two communities and ended in a Geneva-area parking lot.

Various news agencies were reporting conflicting accounts of how many people were killed. The Web site of The Dothan Eagle newspaper reported as many as 10 people. WPMI, the NBC affiliate in Mobile, Ala., reported 12 dead.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29623587

[lurkey]

from twitter @BreakingNewsOn:

sequence of events:

Southeast Sun: Alabama shooting rampage began at Samson home where gunman killed 6 people, believed to be relatives.

Alabama gunman then killed man walking on sidewalk in Samson; then opened fire at Big/Little Store, killing 1 woman and injuring others.

Southeast Sun: Alabama gunman then drove to parking lot of Bradley Tru-Value Hardware and opened fire again; no word on casualties there.

Southeast Sun: Alabama gunman continued onto Highway 52 towards Geneva; unconfirmed reports say he fired at vehicles on the way.

Southeast Sun: Alabama gunman then opened fire at or near Wal-Mart in Geneva; officer rammed his car and attempted to shoot him but missed.

Southeast Sun: Alabama gunman shot Geneva police chief who approached his car; then continued onto Highway 27.

Gunman stopped at Reliable Metal Products and exchanged gunfire with officers; then killed himself inside building where 500 were working.

[lurkey]

From ABC news: Wife and child of deputy sheriff among Alabama shooting victims

[Ptarmigan]

Oh God! That's horrible! My condolences and prayers to anyone who lost loved ones.

[Brent]

Ala. gunman killed his mother, grandparents and others

Posted: March 10, 2009 05:17 PM
Updated: March 10, 2009 10:32 PM

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - The Coffee County coroner said a suspect in Tuesday's deadly rampage started his day of bloodshed at his mother's house in Kinston, burning it to the ground. The mother's body was inside the house, but Coroner Robert Preachers said officials have not been able to enter the house to determine if she was shot.

News of the mother's death brings the body count to at least eleven people, including the gunman. The man's shooting spree covered two counties (Coffee and Geneva) and targeted people in the town of Kinston and the cities of Samson and Geneva in extreme southeast Alabama.

There is still no word on the suspect or victims' identities, and there is currently no known motive. Preachers confirmed that several other victims of the gunman were related to him. Those victims included his grandparents, an aunt and an uncle.

Col. Chris Murphy held an evening news conference at the Alabama State Troopers post in Montgomery to provide details. Murphy called the day's events "one of the worst tragedies in recent memory." Murphy said the Director's Crisis Center was activated as news of the rampage broke.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=9982408

[Miss Mary]

Sometimes I think we need an ongoing topic titled - what is this world coming to - or tragic shooting - more violence.

OR - pictures of puppies and kittens.

I just don't know anymore......and I know for a fact I am definitely sounding like my parents did years ago.

You almost don't want to turn on the news. Locally, we've had 4 or 5 very shocking news headlines in the news, the latest was a murdered 13 year old promising 7th grader, who went for a jog near her home. Never to return again.

I'm done.....until the next shocking headline I guess. Which we know will be only a matter of days.

Why can't people just be responsible for themselves and treat others kindly?

[O Town]

Yeah I just read this on my home page. Very scary story, and sad as well.
There have always been people doing crazy things, and always will be. No way to avoid it, but I
feel very sorry for the innocent people here.

[southerngale]

The headline on Drudge now reads 12 shot dead. It said 10 last night.

What a horrible monster! More than likely, this guy already had a rap sheet. We need much stiffer penalties in this country, to get the bad off the street and to protect the innocent. Like Miss Mary even mentioned... a 13 year old jogging near her home... that SHOULD be something a 13 year old can do!

[GalvestonDuck]

Stiffer penalties for what?

Clearly this was someone who reached the end of his rope. How are you going to punish him if he's already dead? You can't have penalties for suicides, stiff or lenient. Once they're dead, they're dead.

I completely understand where he's coming from now. Not that I'm going on a killing spree or anything. But I get that whole "Screw the world...everything is hopeless" mentality. I'd be more inclined to direct it only at myself though. Good thing handguns are still legal. For a mere $300, I can get an awesomely powerful .357 that is nice and short and easy to aim at my own head. Can't do it as easy with a rifle or shotgun...or rope or pills or razor or whatever.

This guy quit his job and had other things going on that we can never ask him about now. But he must have felt anger and hopelessness and was ready to give up on life. This wasn't just some random hood off the streets who started popping caps in people. This was a guy who felt he had nothing left. So, he took out what little he had left, along with a few by-standers who maybe he felt would stand in his way, and then he took his own life. Heck, he may not have even had a rap sheet.

[HURAKAN]

This is definitely crazy.

[southerngale]

Stiffer penalties for what?

Clearly this was someone who reached the end of his rope. How are you going to punish him if he's already dead? You can't have penalties for suicides, stiff or lenient. Once they're dead, they're dead.

I completely understand where he's coming from now. Not that I'm going on a killing spree or anything. But I get that whole "Screw the world...everything is hopeless" mentality. I'd be more inclined to direct it only at myself though. Good thing handguns are still legal. For a mere $300, I can get an awesomely powerful .357 that is nice and short and easy to aim at my own head. Can't do it as easy with a rifle or shotgun...or rope or pills or razor or whatever.

This guy quit his job and had other things going on that we can never ask him about now. But he must have felt anger and hopelessness and was ready to give up on life. This wasn't just some random hood off the streets who started popping caps in people. This was a guy who felt he had nothing left. So, he took out what little he had left, along with a few by-standers who maybe he felt would stand in his way, and then he took his own life. Heck, he may not have even had a rap sheet.

Stiffer penalties in general. There are a lot of people who commit crimes only to get a slap on the wrist. Then they turn around and commit a much worse crime.

GD, I don't know what's going on, but it sounds like you need someone to talk to. Family, therapist, or someone you trust? Someone you don't know, but may can help? Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I feel compelled to post these after reading your post. If you need anything, let us know.

1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433

1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255

[Brent]

The guy apparently had police training but failed to pass the academy. What was his past crimes though? I haven't heard of them.

McLendon had briefly been employed as a police officer in Samson, but had failed to complete "required training" at a police academy in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2003, authorities said Wednesday. He had no criminal record, they said.

[Ptarmigan]

My condolences to anyone who lost loved ones in this senseless violence.

[GalvestonDuck]

Stiffer penalties for what?

Clearly this was someone who reached the end of his rope. How are you going to punish him if he's already dead? You can't have penalties for suicides, stiff or lenient. Once they're dead, they're dead.

I completely understand where he's coming from now. Not that I'm going on a killing spree or anything. But I get that whole "Screw the world...everything is hopeless" mentality. I'd be more inclined to direct it only at myself though. Good thing handguns are still legal. For a mere $300, I can get an awesomely powerful .357 that is nice and short and easy to aim at my own head. Can't do it as easy with a rifle or shotgun...or rope or pills or razor or whatever.

This guy quit his job and had other things going on that we can never ask him about now. But he must have felt anger and hopelessness and was ready to give up on life. This wasn't just some random hood off the streets who started popping caps in people. This was a guy who felt he had nothing left. So, he took out what little he had left, along with a few by-standers who maybe he felt would stand in his way, and then he took his own life. Heck, he may not have even had a rap sheet.

Stiffer penalties in general. There are a lot of people who commit crimes only to get a slap on the wrist. Then they turn around and commit a much worse crime.

GD, I don't know what's going on, but it sounds like you need someone to talk to. Family, therapist, or someone you trust? Someone you don't know, but may can help? Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I feel compelled to post these after reading your post. If you need anything, let us know.

1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433

1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255

See, that's the funny thing about it. Yes, I need someone to talk to, but the person I trust the most who I would turn to for something like this -- she's not here. I didn't do enough and now she's gone. And it hurts like hell. I didn't see the signs...signs that I should have recognized. I've been there, so I should know. I should have been able to see it. Unfortunately, she was so completely not herself that I didn't realize how bad it was inside her head. I didn't know then what I know now. Some stupid pillpusher prescribed medicine that is not indicated for sleep, so she should have never been taking it. The most serious side effect -- "high suicide risk." It's all over the internet. And me, being the resourceful person that I am, I didn't know to look anything up. I didn't think to do any research. I didn't know then what I know now and now it's too late to know.

It's not like she's on vacation with her hubby or at a conference for work or that we're both working hard during a long, busy week and I just haven't seen her for a while. It's been two months and I can't accept the fact that I'm not going to see her again (here on earth). She is my best friend. She is the closest friend I've ever had. She is my support system. My parents are dead, I have no brothers or sisters, I have no significant other, no kids, nothing like that. She is the one person I could turn to for advice, for help, for laughs, for fun, for strength. And now she's gone. So that makes it really hard to get through this. It makes me feel alone. Yes, I know I have God. But right now, I feel alone. I am trying my damnedest to be strong and to have faith. I'm trying to remain the same gung-ho "This is my island and this is my hospital and we will be back" GalvestonDuck I've always been. But that's hard to do. It hard to do without the one person who made me feel stronger and more mature and more assertive and more fun and more special. After over 30 years of life, I finally found someone who really made me understand who I was and who I could be. For almost 8 years, I had the best friend that I think I will ever have. And now...I don't.

It's hard to start the day watching the news and seeing some goofy story that I make a mental note about and say to myself, "Gotta tell Niki about that one." It's hard to think about a new movie that's coming out because we won't get to see it together. It's hard to be happy about my apartment being liveable again or about the regents saying UTMB gets to stay on the island or about a Skywarn class. I'm trying. I'm making every attempt to keep living like she did. You hear so many times after someone dies, "She was so full of life." Well, that was definitely Niki...no ifs, ands, or buts about it. She brought me out of my shell and really showed me how someone can grab life by the horns and just go. I'm still very reserved and introverted, especially compared to her. But that made us a good combination as friends. We complemented each other that way. She did so damn much in life and I know I have a lot of catching up to do. And I keep trying to tell myself that. Like I mentioned the Skywarn class -- she'd get a kick out of knowing I did that because she knew I was something of a weather geek (at least, compared to most of the people we run around with, but pretty tame compared to people here).

And yet, as much as I try to tell myself that I've got to stick around for the recovery so we can stick it in all the faces of the naysayers, as much as I try to tell myself I've got to stick around until 12/22/2012, being the skeptic I am, so I can laugh when the end of the world doesn't happen, and as much as I try to tell myself I've got to stick around because, if it wasn't for the medicine, she'd still be here so I'd want to be around, it's not easy. It's not easy to want to stick around. It hurts that she's not here and that I could have prevented it. I tried to tell her it would be okay. I said we'd get through all of this. I even hid her husband's guns...or so I thought. I thought he had two...I was wrong, he had three. But even if I didn't know how many guns he had, if I had only looked inside the bag, I would have not seen the .357. And that's the key. I would have not seen it. I didn't know about all of his guns, but I knew the .357. I've held it. I've cocked it and pulled the trigger. I noticed how easily the gun fires with just barely a touch of pressure on the trigger once the gun was cocked. I've held it and thought to myself, "Wow...this is a big-arse gun with big bullets. If I ever get to that point again, this is what I'd use. This would do some serious damage." I've seen enough bullet wounds from working in the ER. I know what a bullet that size would do. But I never got to that point. I was there several times before I moved here to Galveston and several times before I met Niki. But like I said, she made me a stronger person. It would have never, ever happened with her around. But I can't deny that when I held that gun, I couldn't help but think how powerful it would be and how it was made to kill. I held it and didn't think about it as a weapon for killing someone else. I thought of it as an instrument of suicide. Even though I wasn't thinking about doing it then, I thought about how it would be if I did use it. So, I knew that gun. I knew all about that gun. I knew how it felt, how heavy it was, how it fired. And because I knew it, I should have looked at it that day. If I had, I wouldn't have found it and I would have known it was gone. I would have known how serious things were. But I didn't. And that mistake cost me the one thing that can never be replaced. Of all the things I lost in this damn storm, this was the one loss that I can never ever get over. I could have handled losing everything -- my car, my entire home, my photos, even my goofy, completely unimportant now Patty Duke movie collection. Heck, as hard as it is to say, I could have even handled losing every last picture of my mom and dad and my dad's dogtags if I didn't have to lose Niki. I could have made it. I could have dealt with losing everything if I still had my best friend. But now I don't.

And, I'm sorry...but I have to express it sometimes. I guess it comes out in weird ways. Especially since, here at work, my boss (a psych major, of all things) says I should wear a mask to hide my feelings and be happy when I'm here. "We all have bad days but we get over them." Um, yeah...okay. Bad day? Whatever.... So, then I read about someone who is having a "bad day" and I can sympathize. I actually have some sense of what he's feeling because I'm feeling it. Sure, I have a bit more self-control and I'm not going postal. But I won't deny that I've expressed some serious rage-filled anger towards the doctor who prescribed Niki's medicine. If I had seen him within the first few weeks of her death, I'm not sure I would have had the same strength and control. People often talk about how they'd kill a person if that person (rapist, molestor, bully, whatever) ever hurt a loved one. You can say it and you can imagine it, but until you feel it, there's no way to really describe it and no way to really understand the intensity of your emotions at that time. That's another thing that's odd for me. I'm such a pro-lifer that I used to talk about how I couldn't do something like that. I believe we wait for justice. I don't feel capital punishment should be something that we, Joe Citizen, can just depense in the streets on our own (not trying to get political). And yet, I know that I felt a lot of anger towards that doctor immediately after Niki died. My point is, no matter what my opinion or argument is, I know that emotions can be overpowering and some people lose control because of them. I think that's what happened to this guy. He reached his breaking point. I think it was a combination of pain/hopelessness and anger/vengeance that lead him to this homicidal-suicidal brink. And yes, I believe that it was his intention to die at the end of this rampage, either by his own hand or by suicide-by-cop. I don't believe he was just going on a killing spree with no intention of dying himself. I think he knew it would be his last day on this earth as well.

And my point in replying was that I understand that pain that he's feeling. I know how powerful that pain can be. I understand how dark and oppressive those feelings of loss and hopelessness are. I had to express it. It's dangerous to hold it in. That's something I've always believed. I believe that many of us don't communicate and express our feelings enough. That's part of why I believe that we should study those who kill before we turn around and execute them. I believe if we learn to understand and recognize signs and symptoms of those who are becoming overpowered by their own emotions (and better yet, recognize it in ourselves), we can learn to better control and prevent tragedies like that. And the best way to recognize those signs and symptoms is through open and honest communication and feedback.

I'm sorry if my post about buying a gun frightened some of you. I'm a writer, not a talker. I have actually talked some with people here at work. But I can't go to a therapist for obvious reasons (I don't want some quack who wants to medicate me). However, if the moment hits and I need to express myself in writing, even if it's dark, I'm going to do it. Sorry, but it was the best way to express myself rather than holding it in. I read the news, I felt his pain, I could relate, and so I said it. It was a bit extreme, but it helped to not hold back. It was therapeutic in a way.

I know I'll continue to have waves of overwhelming sadness and despair as I grieve and try to accept what has happened. It's not going to be easy. But I'm not going to hold it all in until I explode. That would be a mistake. I can't let that happen. If I did, it would lead to more tragedy. And like I said, I gotta stick around so when we recover (which appears to be happening a lot faster here than in NOLA *ahem!*) I can shove it in all the faces of the people who gripe about those of us living in hurricane zones. Plus, I want to be able to laugh at all the nuts who think the world is going to end in 2012.

[Stephanie]

And, I'm sorry...but I have to express it sometimes. I guess it comes out in weird ways. Especially since, here at work, my boss (a psych major, of all things) says I should wear a mask to hide my feelings and be happy when I'm here. "We all have bad days but we get over them." Um, yeah...okay. Bad day? Whatever....

My response to that is there's always someone in a class that has the lowest grade. Perhaps he was one of them? ARE YOU FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME???? I certainly hope that he is not seeing any patients.

YOU need to find someone to talk to, to help you get rid of this unjustified guilt that you are feeling. Not all therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists are incompetent. They can only go by what the patient is telling them or what they can draw out of the patient. It's a two way street and there needs to be a whole lot of time invested in the therapy. I've been fortunate that the two psychiatrists that I've had I've felt very comfortable with and I put my first one through a suicidal scare in his office. I cried out for help with him there in front of me. I could've easily have been home alone and there would've been nothing he could've done about it. Unless every person that is even suspected of wanting to commit suicide is locked up, people are still going to kill themselves and leave a lot of people wondering what the hell it was that they did wrong. It's not all about you it's about THEM. I know for myself that when I'm stressed and/or depressed (usually goes hand in hand), I clam up. I don't want to talk about it. Are my family and friends mind readers? No! Ah, but there lies the main problem. A depressed person needs to talk but doesn't feel comfortable doing so either because they're paranoid, afraid of the other people's reaction, afraid of feeling even more pain discussing it (even though it is a good release), afraid that they need help, AGAIN, etc. Niki may have been your best friend, but perhaps she was even protecting you from seeing her in that condition or having to "deal" with her. Even if you found the gun, threw out the sleeping pills, etc., if she was that intent to kill herself, she would've found another way.

You have every right to mourn, feel angry, sad, depressed but you need to also begin to HEAL.

[southerngale]

I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through. I won't pretend to know because I don't, but I do know that it definitely was not your fault! I do hope that you'll take Stephanie's advice (great reply) and find someone to talk to. Find a therapist (psychiatrist) that you feel comfortable with. Ask people you trust at work for a recommendation. (not that quack of a boss)

You may not ever "get over it," but with time, the pain should start to subside. Again, I don't have personal experience with this, but I know others who do. I really don't know what else to say other than I will be praying for you.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Galveston Duck I pray that you feel better and heal. I think that as someone
myself who experienced a combination of extreme anger and paranoia, I can
be someone who perhaps can try to explain the motive of some people who
commit suicide whether or not they kill others too. I don't know about this Alabama
person, but me myself what drove me to aggression (I didn't hurt anyone but
I felt excessive anger and took it out on walls and doors and my own self) was
something with my thought it kept repeating insults to me and making me have
anxiety and panic attacks. I tried to ignore it but it got more and more
frequent and impossible to deal with...I thought the only way to stop the thoughts
was to stop the person who bullied me...in other words...physically retaliate against
them...I was never violent before...but the thoughts of the insults kept repeating
more and more in my head and I was going to go insane I was already paranoid
and believed that people were plotting against me to torment me and experiment and some scary stuff...but I was on the verge and I started to thrash objects and they called 3 police officers to restrain me...I tried to explain that I was trying to get
rid of the insults but didn't know any other way...I was also depressed and suicidal..
needless to say others helped me get psychiatric care and thank goodness or i would be possibly not here now...i'd be hospitalized...so definetly get care it
helps esp psychiatric therapy it saved me...hope this helps...

and furthermore as to what causes people to do these things with me it was the
Severe Thought Disorder that is associated with Mild Schizophrenia, namely
paranoia and Obsessive compulsive disorder- hence the repeating of insults
and the Fear that if the insult wasn't "responded to" I would be tormented
alive in my brain and it was living hell too: I really believed that people
were trying to torment me and that the only way to stop them was
physically attacking them or else I would be tormented and persecuted for life
or worse
it was unending paranoia;

the psychiatrists and therapists help convince me that physical attacks
wouldn't do any good and they trained me out of the paranoia---> but that
paranoia is why people kill others/themselves IMO...because it is so
REAL and intense and you feel like God betrayed you...


but that is why i recommend psychotherapy it saved my life

[Miss Mary]

Duckie - you do have the right to grieve, mourn and rant. Your boss is WRONG! As Kelly pointed out, great post Steph. By being told to go to work each day and wear that mask hiding your feelings, your boss is in denial. Perhaps if this boss had taken the time to really listen to what you are going through, your pain might have been lessened. Or at the very least work would have been a comfort and would be a good place to go to each day. I would love to talk to your boss, truly I would. But that's here nor there. Like Kelly said I don't pretend to know what you are going through and you will likely never get over it. But with help the pain might become more manageable and you wouldn't feel so alone. In addition to seeing an excellent therapist, a support group might help as well. Even one online. I gently encourage you to consider both, or all 3, in person support group as well as online community.

Duckie - mostly I just wish I could give you a hug right now. Just so you know that others do care. Cyber hugs coming your way.....(((hugs))).

Tampa Bay - I was so sorry to read of your struggle as well. So glad to read that you found the help that you needed and are doing much better. You were able to give Duckie keen insights (and well all of us really) to the struggle people are in, as this shooter might have been.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

THank you Miss Mary!

I also send prayers to Galveston Duck I hope you can find peace and heal-
it's not your fault what happened to your best friend...often people can be
overwhelmed by depression or other sadness and it is not your fault; galveston
duck you sound like a very caring person, you are a good person, compassionate,
I hope you can find peace and heal...

[Stephanie]

Thank you for sharing your experience Tampa Bay. I'm so glad that you were able to get the help that you needed. I know that from my own experience the paranoia from the depression was horrible. I knew there was something wrong, I felt like everyone else knew too. If I did something or snapped out, I'd hate myself more and feel like people thought I was crazy. I liken it to being in a whirlpool or a big vortex. The harder you try to fight against it, the deeper it sucks you in.

I'd like to join you Miss Mary with that cyber (((HUG))) to Duckie.