Ala. gunmen kills 10, himself in shooting spree

[Capt Caveman]

Update - CNN: At least 10 dead in two-town Alabama shooting spree

10 shot, killed in south Ala. towns; shooter dead

SAMSON, Ala. ? A coroner says the suspect in a shooting rampage that killed at least 10 people in south Alabama began his day of bloodshed by burning down his mother's house where officials found her body.

Coffee County Coroner Robert Preachers says officials have not been able to enter the house outside of Kinston to determine if she was shot. Preachers says the suspect then went to nearby Samson and killed his grandparents, aunt and uncle.

Preachers said the grandfather, Alfred White, had raised the suspect and that officials did not have a motive.

The Alabama Department of Safety says the gunman killed nine people before fatally shooting himself at a metal products plant in neighboring Geneva.

Police are investigating at least four separate shootings, all believed to be done by one gunman. His name was not released

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SAMSON, Ala. (AP) ? A gunman went on a shooting spree in two neighboring south Alabama towns Tuesday, killing nine people before he shot himself at a metals plant, authorities said.

Police are investigating at least four separate shootings, all believed to be done by one gunman, whose name was not released, the Alabama Department of Safety said in a statement.

The shootings began late in the afternoon in Samson. The shooter killed five people in one home and one each in two other homes.

The gunman also shot at a state trooper's car, striking the vehicle seven times and wounding the trooper with broken glass.

He then killed someone at a Samson supply store and another person at a service station.

Samson contractor Greg McCullough said he was pumping gas at the station when the gunman opened fire, killing a woman coming out of the service station and wounding McCullough in the shoulder and arm with bullet fragments that struck his truck and the pump.

"I first thought it was somebody playing," he said. He said the gunman roared into the parking lot and slammed on his brakes. Then he saw the rifle.

He said the gunman fired and the rifle appeared to jam, then he "went back to firing." Then he drove off.

McCullough, a father of two, said he tried to help the woman who was shot and yelled for someone to call an ambulance.

"I'm just in awe that something like this could take place. That someone could do such a thing. It's just shocking," McCullough told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Police pursued the gunman Reliable Metal Products just north of Geneva, about a dozen miles southeast of Samson, where he fired an estimated 30 rounds, the safety department said. One of the bullets hit Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey, who was saved by his bullet proof vest.

The statement says the gunman then went in the plant and shot himself. His name was not released.

The gunman had worked at Reliable Metal, said state Rep. Warren Beck, a Republican whose district includes Geneva.

"My secretary heard gunfire everywhere," he said. "This is one of the most tragic events ever in Geneva County."

State Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, said some of those killed in Samson were sitting outside.

"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said. "A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."

The department of safety said state fire marshals are investigating the scene of a burned house in Coffee County where one body was found. The scene is believed to be involved in this series of incidents.

Reliable Metal Products makes grills and vents for heating and AC systems, mainly for hotels. A call to a person who answered the phone at the plant said no one could talk about the shooting.

The towns of Geneva and Samson are roughly 30 miles south of Fort Rucker, near the Florida border in southeast Alabama. Geneva's population is about 4,400 and Samson, 2,000.

Smith and Beck were at the Statehouse when state troopers came to get them and took them to Geneva County. Smith said the governor's office is sending resources and state troopers are setting up a command post.

 

[Crono]

🙁 We human beings

 

[zerocool84]

Damn well I hope they find a reason for this and sorry to the families this happened to. Never a good thing for something like this crap to happen.

 

[JulesMaximus]

In before the "CCW" crowd.

 

[Perknose]

Beyond the basic senseless tragedy, what family has a front porch they all sit on a Tuesday?

"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said. "A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."

 

[bdude]

Damn, didn't someone have a gun?

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: bdude
Damn, didn't someone have a gun?

Yes. I think that's how 10 people got shot.

 

[Baked]

Good. He saved the tax payers a shit load of money putting his ass on trial.

 

[Rudee]

I wonder why they aren't talking about this tragedy in the news more? Wait a minute.... it's in Alabama. That explains it.

 

[Arkitech]

why don't these people just shoot themselves to start with? friggin loser

gee, my life is crappy. oh well the only option I have now is to kill a bunch of people and then off myself.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Horrible. I just don't understand how someone could want to do something like that.

ZV

 

[LTC8K6]

He's a nut. What else can you say? Are we going to ban rifles now?

 

[cornbread]

In areas like that, it is very common for people to eat dinner then sit out on their porches this time of year. It's just a thing that a lot of rural southern people do to relax, you know when a lot of people will kick back after a day's work and watch tv, they sit out on the porch until the sun goes down, sometimes after then, and talk about the day's events.

<edit> Basically, just shooting the breeze</edit>
Posted by: Perknose[/i]
Beyond the basic senseless tragedy, what family has a front porch they all sit on a Tuesday?

"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said. "A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."

[/quote]

 

[Paladin3]

That sucks 🙁 but the only answer to incidents like this is learn to shoot back or die. There is no super cop who is going fly out of your ass and defend you. No super gubment is going to fly down from on high and legislate evil away. No gun laws are going stop evil people from doing evil shit. No prayer, no candle-light vigil, no protest, no angry vote, no educational program, no therapy, no pleading, no whining nor even begging is going to stop evil from doing evil.

In the end it's just you, me and the other good people of this world vs. the evil among us. Learn to defend yourself or be a victim. 🙁 Really sad when shit like this happens.

 

[Zebo]

Those who made laws against the 2nd A and infringed our rights share the blame for every victim in every mass murder like this.

The police cannot help the citizen when their lives are in danger only the citizens can defend themselves in that sudden moment of life or death.

If the citizen was not afraid of being imprisoned or harassed for carrying a gun which is their right there would likely be many more people carrying
and prepared to stop events like this before they result in mass murder.

To restrict the right of self defense and the defense of society by the citizens themselves is to aid in the murderers and villains who prey on society.

Repeal firearms laws, repeal NFA. Do it for the children!

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Zebo
If the citizen was not afraid of being imprisoned or harassed for carrying a gun which is their right there would likely be many more people carrying
and prepared to stop events like this before they result in mass murder.

😕 We are talking about Alabama here. I don't think they have particularly strict firearm possession or carry laws.

 

[Pocatello]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Zebo
If the citizen was not afraid of being imprisoned or harassed for carrying a gun which is their right there would likely be many more people carrying
and prepared to stop events like this before they result in mass murder.

😕 We are talking about Alabama here. I don't think they have particularly strict firearm possession or carry laws.

People don't tend to carry firearm with them, even if it's legal, and most people are not ready for a combat situation, kill or be killed, unless they live in a war zone. A random act of terror is not easy to prevent.

 

[Paladin3]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Zebo
If the citizen was not afraid of being imprisoned or harassed for carrying a gun which is their right there would likely be many more people carrying
and prepared to stop events like this before they result in mass murder.

😕 We are talking about Alabama here. I don't think they have particularly strict firearm possession or carry laws.

I'm not trying to turn this into a gun rights argument, but my understanding is that you need a permit to carry a handgun concealed in Alabama and that there is no open carry law. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

And I'm not advocating putting a gun in everyones hand as the best solution. I just can't think of anything else to do except arm the good guys to fight back against the bad. If we can figure out a way to make everyone play nice then I'm all for it. Why do we have so much more gun violence here in the US than in other country with a similar number of guns? Canada is a perfect example, lots of guns, far less gun violence. I just don't get it. 🙁

 

[skace]

It was Mr. White, with the rifle, at the gas station.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Paladin3

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Zebo
If the citizen was not afraid of being imprisoned or harassed for carrying a gun which is their right there would likely be many more people carrying
and prepared to stop events like this before they result in mass murder.

😕 We are talking about Alabama here. I don't think they have particularly strict firearm possession or carry laws.

I'm not trying to turn this into a gun rights argument, but my understanding is that you need a permit to carry a handgun concealed in Alabama and that there is no open carry law. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

And I'm not advocating putting a gun in everyones hand as the best solution. I just can't think of anything else to do except arm the good guys to fight back against the bad. If we can figure out a way to make everyone play nice then I'm all for it. Why do we have so much more gun violence here in the US than in other country with a similar number of guns? Canada is a perfect example, lots of guns, far less gun violence. I just don't get it. 🙁

The fact that there is no open carry law typically means that it is legal. Few states have passed laws specifically allowing open carry, rather it is considered a right under most state constitutions unless laws are passed to the contrary. Here is the Alabama AG's opinion on open carry: http://www.ago.state.al.us/oldopinions/8400205.pdf

Regardless, these people were killed at home, by someone they knew. This kind of thing is very hard to prevent.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Beyond the basic senseless tragedy, what family has a front porch they all sit on a Tuesday?

i really dont understand how you can ask a question that is this stupid

 

[Modelworks]

He wouldn't have lived long around where I live. Everyone has hunting rifles and shotguns just inside the door.

 

[cornbread]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
He wouldn't have lived long around where I live. Everyone has hunting rifles and shotguns just inside the door.

I'll be willing to bet there are just as many people in the area affected that carry hunting rifles and shotguns inside the door as well - This is rural-south Alabama that's being referred to, ya know. You've probably heard this in your area since you mentioned that hunting is a big sport where you're at, but the joke about the first day of hunting season being considered an 'off day' from work is well known in these counties in Alabama too.. Deer are rampant in rural SE Alabama.