Alabama shooting spree suspect Michael McLendon kills 10 in Kinson and Samson, before killing self.An Alabama man with an assault weapon burned down his mother's house around her, shot his grandparents, aunt and uncle dead, then killed five other people Tuesday before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. Coffee County coroner Robert Preachers identified the shooter as Michael McLendon and said he was in his 30s.
It was unclear if the mother, Lisa McClendon, who died, had been shot.
Authorities gave no motive for McLendon's rampage, which claimed victims in several homes in the small towns of Kinston, Samson and Geneva and along the highway connecting them, and ended at the metal plant where he once worked. Two of the dead were a sheriff deputy's wife and 18-month-old child.
Several other people were injured, including Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey, who was saved by his bulletproof vest, and a state trooper wounded by flying glass when his car was hit with seven slugs.
"He sprayed bullets through the town," Kirke Adams, district attorney for Geneva and Dale counties, told the Associated Press.
Investigators Tuesday night were looking into possible shootings in other locations. "This is one of the most tragic events ever in Geneva County," state Sen. Harri Anne Smith said.
The carnage began in the late afternoon in Kinston, where Michael McLendon burned down his mother's home. Officials said McClendon then went to nearby Samson and shot his grandparents, aunt and uncle.
The sheriff deputy's wife and child were slaughtered in their mobile home, officials said. McClendon also killed another person at a Samson supply store and a woman at a service station, they said. The location of the shooting of the 10th victim was unclear.
Cops said McClendon fired randomly at people as his maroon Mitsubishi Eclipse traveled along Highway 52 toward Geneva's Reliable Metal Products, which makes grills and vents for heating and air conditioning systems, mainly for hotels. McLendon had reportedly once worked at the plant.
"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," Smith said. "A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."
Cops caught up with McClendon at Reliable, where he was said to be a past or present employee. After firing 30 rounds at the officers, he went inside and shot himself to death.
Original Source : http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/03/10/2009-03-10_alabama_shooting_spree_suspect_michael_m.html
