Up to nine killed in shooting rampage in Samson, Alabama

[Little-Acorn]

Early report, details are sketchy, and will probably change as more accurate information becomes available.

Pray for the souls of the innocent victims.

That doesn't include the shooter, who was neither. He didn't die soon enough, like before anyone got shot.

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http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0309/602539.html

Gunman, Several Others Killed in South Alabama

03/10/09 6:34 pm
reporter: Jeremy King

Samson, Ala. - Authorities and other sources said up to nine people were killed after a gunman went on a shooting rampage at a handful of locations in southern Alabama late Tuesday afternoon.

The gunman is among those killed; however, it is unclear whether he took his own life or whether he was killed by someone else.

Sources said the shooting locations include a Piggly Wiggly store, a Wal-Mart, and possibly other locations around the small town of Samson in Geneva County.

The identity of the gunman had not yet been released, nor had the identities of the shooting victims.

[5stringJeff]

Darin, please post so we know you're OK.

[Little-Acorn]

Samson, AL is about 60 miles south of Montgomery. Just a few miles from the state's southern border with Florida.

[Little-Acorn]

Now "at least seven people" killed, including the gunman.

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http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/03/update_police_say_7_shot_and_k.html

Update: Police say 7 shot and killed in two south Alabama towns

Posted by The Associated Press March 10, 2009 7:36 PM
Categories: Breaking News

SAMSON, Ala. (AP) -- Police say at least seven people were shot and killed in south Alabama, including the gunman.

Samson police dispatcher Jim Stromenger says six people were confirmed dead in that town Tuesday.

Samson Police Chief Gary Weeks says the suspect was shot and killed. But it is unclear whether it was self-inflicted or whether he was shot by police near the Reliable Metal Products company outside Geneva.

Stromenger says the gunman started firing at a gas station in Samson, shooting a woman there.

He says he then went to a home where he shot five people.

Stromenger says the shooter then drove 12 miles east to Geneva and shot people there before he was killed.

The towns of Geneva and Samson are near the Florida border in southeast Alabama.

[Little-Acorn]

Now eleven victims, plus the gunman.

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

South AL gunman identified, death toll now at 12

Updated: March 11, 2009 07:43 AM PDT

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Police have now identified the man behind Tuesday's deadly south Alabama shooting spree. Police say Michael McLendon of Kinston went on a two county rampage before turning the gun on himself.

The Coffee County coroner said McLendon started his day off with bloodshed at the Kinston area home owned by his mother; a home he ended up burning to the ground. The mother's body was still inside the house Tuesday evening, but Coroner Robert Preachers said officials had not been able to enter the house to determine if she was shot. It's also believed McClendon's girlfriend was killed inside the home.

The death toll now stands at 12, including the gunman. Others citizens and law enforcment officers were wounded as McClendon drove though town firing shots at anyone in his path.

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.

Victim identities and a motive remain unknown. Preachers confirmed that several other victims of the gunman were related to him including McLendon's grandparents, an aunt and an uncle. Investigators tell WSFA 12 News the victims ranged in age from 18 months to 74-years-old.

Col. Chris Murphy, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, 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 Governor Bob Riley was briefed on the situation, and he spoke with area mayors a short time later. Riley promised state resources to help those local municipalities deal with the aftermath. (Note: Wednesday morning news conference now planned. WSFA 12 News will have coverage.)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and many other agencies continue to work multiple crime scenes.

Murphy told media outlets that four adults and one child were found dead inside of one house, and one body was found at each of two other houses in the Samson area.

Investigators said McLendon drove down Highway 52 where he fired at least seven times on a state trooper vehicle. The trooper was wounded by broken glass.

He then drove to the Samson Pipe and Supply Company on Highway 52 where he gunned down another victim. Afterwards, he took aim at an innocent civilian at a local service station in the same area. That victim also died of their wounds.

Geneva police then began a pursuit of the suspect's vehicle, chasing McLendon to the Reliable Metal Products company in Geneva. Officials later confirmed he had been a former employee of the company, but the reasons for his leaving the company were not immediately know.

On there, officials said the man fired at least a 30 round burst of ammunition at the city police chief before running inside the business. The police chief was grazed by gunfire but was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

A short time later investigators said they heard shots inside the building, and when they entered the business they found the man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

[musicman]

Darin, please post so we know you're OK.

Jeff, do you hear anything from Darin yet?

[musicman]

The next time one of these lame-asses decides he's too weak to continue living his life, I wish he'd just step out in front of a fucking bus and get it over with.

Do ONE brave thing in your life, dickhead. Refuse to drag our constitutional freedoms down to hell with you. And, leave innocent bystanders out of your self-immolation. Likewise, your poor families; being related to YOU is punishment enough. Have a nice stroll...

[glockmail]

Wanna start a pool for the first call for a gun ban?