George Sodini, 48, Pa. Gym Shooter, Plotted Attack in Online Diary Before Killing Four

George Sodini, 48, of Scott Township, Pa., has been confirmed as the man who police said walked quietly into an aerobics class at LA Fitness in Bridgeville, Pa., where he was a member, turned off the lights and started shooting. Police said they found 52 casings at the scene. He killed three and injured as many as 15 others before committing suicide. According to ABC News, Sodini kept an online diary detailing his hatred for his domineering mother and brother, and his lust for other women. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, among those reportedly shot were Sodini's ex-girlfriend, who survived, and the class instructor, who had just told her class she was pregnant.

Sodini's Aug. 3 online diary entry, which included a date of death, was full of disturbing musings about religion and his plans for the attack. He noted that he hadn't had a drink since 2:30 on Friday as part of his preparation.

"Total effort needed. Tomorrow is the big day. Unfortunately I talked to my neighbor today, who is very positive and upbeat. I need to remain focused and absorbed COMPLETELY," the diary read. "Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out."

The diary also indicated that Sodini hadn't had sex since 1990 and that his so-called "practice papers" -- details about the planning of the attack -- are welcome to be published afterward because "maybe all this will shed insight on why some people just cannot make things happen in their life, which can potentially benefit others.

"Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell," Sodini apparently wrote, before adding later, "I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them." Source: ABC News

It seems that Sodini had been planning this attack for quite some time. He even reportedly wrote that he had put off his original plan until after November's 2008 presidential election, in a rambling entry that complains black men have their choice of the best white girls.

According to the blog, he tried again in January and May, but "chickened out." Various blog entries detail his worry about losing his job and having to re-enter the job market, as well as his troubles with alcohol. A May 5 entry -- the day of his second attempt to launch an attack on the gym -- notes that he stopped to buy a bottle of Jack Daniels, his first drink in 20 years. And on Monday, the day before the shootings, Sodini gave what might be the closest thing to his reason for the attacks.

"The biggest problem of all is not having relationships or friends, but not being able to achieve and acquire what I desire in those or many other areas," the blog reads. "Everything stays the same regardless of the effert (sic) I put in. If I had control over my life then I would be happier. But for about the past 30 years, I have not." Source: ABC News This is eerily reminiscent of Jiverly Wong, who was consumed with so much hatred as he mercilessly shot so many in an upstate New York immigration center. It also reminds me of the callousness of the Virginia Tech gunman. Whatever issues Mr. Sodini had, they didn't rise to the level that warranted a bloodbath at the LA Fitness center. This is another senseless tragedy that didn't have to occur. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Heidi Overmier, 46; Elizabeth Gannon, 49 and Jody Billingsley, 38. Sodini left a note inside his gym bag that indicated he expected to die in the bloodbath. This is the fifth mass shooting in Allegheny county in 10 years.