Geneva County massacre

Geneva County massacre
Geneva County massacre

Location of Geneva County within the state of Alabama
Location Geneva and Samson in Geneva County, Alabama, United States
Date March 10, 2009 (2009-03-10)
3:30 p.m. - 4:17 p.m.[1] (EST)
Attack type Mass murder, arson
Weapon(s) SKS rifle, Bushmaster AR-15, and .38-caliber handgun[2]
Death(s) 11 (including the perpetrator)[3]
Injured 6[4]
Perpetrator Michael Kenneth McLendon

The Geneva County massacre, which occurred on March 10, 2009, spanned at least two communities, Geneva and Samson in Geneva County, Alabama, USA, and resulted in the death of 11 people, including the 28 year old gunman, Michael Kenneth McLendon.[3] The victims included members of the McLendon family; he also burned down his mother's house in the town of Kinston, Alabama.[5] When law enforcement reached him, McLendon was shot and killed, though it was initially unclear whether the shot was self-inflicted.[6] Later reports said he committed suicide.[7]

Contents

Timeline of events

The attacks began at McLendon's residence in Kinston, Alabama, where he killed his mother and set the house on fire. He went to a relative's home in Samson where he shot several members of his family as well as a neighbor and her daughter. McLendon left the family member's home, killed a pedestrian alongside the road, then stopped at a local gas station, killing a customer inside. McLendon left the gas station heading along Alabama Highway 52 towards Geneva, Alabama. He killed another man who was attempting to subdue him. The suspect is also said to have fired at cars on the highway. Law enforcement officers at one point used the PIT maneuver on the suspect's car which failed to stop him. He died in a shoot-out in a Geneva metal products plant in which he is said to have previously worked. During the shoot-out, Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsey was shot in the arm.[8] Several people were also injured.[9]

Victims

The ages of the victims ranged from 18 months to 74 years old.[10] Among the victims were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff, along with the suspect's own mother, grandmother, uncle, niece and 2 cousins. According to a local police officer:[11]

“ Five were killed in a trailer in Samson. Two more were killed in the Big and Little Store in Samson. The suspect was killed in the Reliable Products warehouse in Geneva by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He shot at several vehicles on the highway and then he shot at Wal-Mart and Piggly Wiggly in Geneva. ”

The victims were:[12]

  • Lisa White McLendon, 52, Michael McLendon's mother
  • James Alford White, 55, McLendon's uncle
  • Tracy Michelle Wise, 34, daughter of James White
  • Dean James Wise, 15, son of Tracy Wise
  • Virginia E. White, 74, McLendon's grandmother
  • Andrea Dawn Myers, 31
  • Corrine Gracy Myers, 18 months, daughter of Andrea Myers
  • James Irvin Starling, 24
  • Sonya Lolley Smith, 43
  • Bruce Wilson Maloy, 51

Perpetrator

Michael McLendon

Michael Kenneth McLendon (September 19, 1980[13] - March 10, 2009), killed at least 11 people, including himself, during the shooting; he shot other family members and strangers, and shot and killed his mother and burned her house. The killings took place in Coffee and Geneva counties, and ended with McLendon's suicide.[14][15] Detectives have discovered a hit list in his home targeting several corporations.[16] A letter was also found in which McLendon admitted to killing his mother and that he planned to commit suicide. The letter also mentioned a dispute over a legal issue with his family.[17]

McLendon and his mother Lisa were both members of the Sellersville Assembly of God church located just outside of Samson, Alabama.

Federal troops

In response to a request for assistance from the Geneva County Sheriff's Office and Samson Police, troops from nearby Fort Rucker were deployed to the streets of Samson where they manned traffic stops and guarded a makeshift morgue. An Army investigation later determined this to be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions, and took administrative action against at least one officer.[18]

Reactions

One day later a school shooting causing 15 deaths took place in Winnenden, Germany. Whether the massacre in Geneva County was an actuator for this could not be finally determined.

See also

  • List of massacres in Alabama

References

  1. ^ Sadeed, Ahmed; Dave Alsup (2009-03-11). "Gunman in Alabama slayings was briefly a police officer". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/11/alabama.shooting.spree/index.html#cnnSTCOther1. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  2. ^ "Assault Weapons, Weak Gun Laws Enable Dangerous People Like The Alabama Man Who Killed 10". Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 2009-03-11. http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=1117. Retrieved 2010-02-02. 
  3. ^ a b "5 dead in Alabama shooting; FBI to assist investigation". CNN. 2009-03-10. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/10/shooting.alabama/. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  4. ^ Officials Identify Alabama Gunman, The New York Times (March 11, 2009)
  5. ^ Gresko, Jessica; Desiree Hunter (2009-03-10). "Alabama Shooting Spree Leaves 10 Dead, FBI To Investigate". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/10/alabama-shooting-spree-le_n_173724.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  6. ^ "Officials: Gunman, 4 others killed in south Alabama". Associated Press. 2009-03-10. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/03/officials_gunman_4_others_kill.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  7. ^ McFadden, Cynthia; Bill McGuire (2009-03-10). "Spree Terrifies Small Ala. Towns". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7052272&page=1. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  8. ^ Ayres, Chris (2009-03-11). "Ten dead as Alabama gunman goes on the rampage". The Times. 
  9. ^ "Several die in Alabama shootings". BBC. 2009-03-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7936382.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  10. ^ AP,Catherine Donaldson-Evans (2009-03-11). "Gunman in Alabama Massacre Had Hit List". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508507,00.html. Retrieved 2010-02-02. 
  11. ^ "Eight dead in Alabama shooting spree - police". Reuters. 2009-03-11. http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1036167920090311. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  12. ^ Victims of the Geneva County shooting, Dothan Eagle (March 11, 2009)
  13. ^ and his mother were members of the Sellersville Assembly of God church located just outside of Samson, Alabama.McLendon planned killing spree that left 11 dead, Dothan Eagle (April 22, 2009)
  14. ^ Jessica Gresko and Desiree Hunter (2009-03-11). "Ala. gunman left list of those who wronged him". ABC. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=7053409. Retrieved 2009-03-11. [dead link]
  15. ^ Staff (2009-03-11). "Up to nine killed in Alabama shooting". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25170695-2703,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  16. ^ Catherine Donaldson-Evans and Associated Press (2009-03-11). "Gunman in Alabama massacre had hit list". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508507,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  17. ^ Associated Press (2009-03-14). "Report: Ala. killer left note explaining spree". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30351965/. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  18. ^ Associated Press (2009-10-20). "Troop use After Ala. Shootings Illegal". Military.com. http://www.military.com/news/article/troop-use-after-ala-shootings-illegal.html?col=1186032310810. Retrieved 2009-10-24. 

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