Michael McLendon Goes on Killing Spree, Taking Nine Lives and Injuring Others Before Taking His Life

The new year has started off very bad for many people. Once again a man goes on rampage killing nine people before turning the gun on himself, which he should have done first. Michael McLendon and an assault weapon proved to be a deadly combination yesterday evening. He burned down his mother's house with her in it, shot his grandparents, aunt and uncle dead, then killed five other people Tuesday before turning the gun on himself. Of course, since the scumbag killed himself, it is unclear what the motive for this shooting spree was, if there could ever be one to justify such an atrocity.

The rampage claimed victims in several homes in the small Alabama towns of Kinston, Samson and Geneva and along the highway connecting them. Two of the dead were a sheriff deputy's wife and 3-month-old child. Of course, the dead weren't the only victims. 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.

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 Smith said. The carnage began in the late afternoon in Kinston, where Michael McLendon burned down his mother's home. Officials said McLendon 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. McLendon 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 McLendon 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. "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 McLendon 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. Source: NY Daily News

There is no justification for what this man did and it would have been better if he had killed himself first, then an innocent baby would not have died, as well as the other innocent victims. Some may say we have never walked in the shoes of the gunman, but there are better ways of handling adversity, if it stemmed from that. The ends do not justify the means in this situation and it is a tragic of untold proportions. The year has started off on a bad note, with the continuing economic meltdown, rising unemployment, among other things.