Gunman Opens Fire at Omaha Mall

Yerfdog · 12.05.07, 02:11 PM

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/gunman-...00010000000001

AP
Posted: 2007-12-05 17:46:04
Filed Under: Nation News
OMAHA, Neb. (Dec. 5) - A man with a rifle opened fire at a busy shopping mall Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life. Five more people were wounded, two critically.

Shoppers and employees ran screaming through the mall and barricaded themselves in dressing rooms after hearing gunfire. The gunman was found dead on the third floor of the Von Maur department store.

A gunman murdered eight people at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday before turning the gun on himself. Police say five others were injured, two critically.
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Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter, said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.

"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," Kleine said.

Keith Fidler, a Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more rounds. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.

A witness, Shawn Vidlak, said he heard four or five rapid shots "like a nail gun." At first he thought it was noise from construction work going on at the mall.

"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids. We got out of there as fast as we could."

Shortly after the shooting, a group of shoppers came out of the building with their hands raised. Some were still holding shopping bags.

President Bush was in town Wednesday for a fundraiser in Omaha, but left about an hour before the shooting.

The sprawling, three-level mall has more than 135 stores and restaurants, according to the Web site for General Growth Properties, the manager of the mall. It gets 14.5 million visitors every year, according to the Web site.

Ted Van Halen · 12.05.07, 02:36 PM

For a split second I swear the title was Gunman opens fire at Obama!!

WinterlessIceness · 12.05.07, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerfdog

It gets 14.5 million visitors every year, according to the Web site.

So, how many of those people carry guns for self-defence?

OLO · 12.05.07, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterlessIceness

So, how many of those people carry guns for self-defence?

My guess is very few. Whats your point?

Bullwinkle · 12.05.07, 06:09 PM

On the plus side, I bet some people got a lot of free shit.

KRAMER5150 · 12.05.07, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterlessIceness

So, how many of those people carry guns for self-defence?

lf l was there there would have been one

track 5 · 12.05.07, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRAMER5150

lf l was there there would have been one

Right. Well it would have been at least two, had I been there. Maybe between the two of us, the thing would have ended alot quicker. But then we would have been sued later on down the road. But getting sued is better than getting shot while trying to buy Christmas gifts for the loved ones.

This dude was such a pussy. I'm sure there will be all kinds of stories of how HE is a victim of his childhood etc. etc. etc.

Lock and load people...you never really know when it might come in handy. Out.

Yesterdays · 12.05.07, 07:56 PM

I feel so safe knowing how many people carry guns to the mall....:

Support your local merchants, folks!

LLFHS · 12.05.07, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Kovac said she found Hawkins' suicide note and called his mother. In the note, she said, Hawkins apologized and said he no longer wanted to be a burden. He also expressed a sense of worthlessness and said "now he'll be famous," Kovac said. Kovac said that Hawkins and his girlfriend had recently broken up and he had just lost his job at a McDonald's restaurant.

At least the loser had the decency to off himself too.....fucktard.

Rot in the ground, you worthless shitstain.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/05/mal...ing/index.html

smithjc · 12.05.07, 09:45 PM

Wasn't it interesting how this all just happened one hour after George Dubya left their little hamlet? It was mentioned earlier today in one of the reports. I know, nothing to do with this but thought it interesting to note.

This would be pretty scary to go through at our local mall. I can't even imagine going through something like this. And right before Christmas.

My thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims.

WinterlessIceness · 12.06.07, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLO

My guess is very few. Whats your point?

The point is that for every person in 'Show your gun' thread who keep their guns for self-defence there are thousands of unarmed people who eventually suffer from somebody who keeps their guns for over less noble purposes. Like those 8 people in the mall.

Number 47 · 12.06.07, 04:38 AM

Now I'll be famous is what this piece of shit wrote in his suicide note.

I'd like to thank the media, for once again, using all means possible to cater to the wishes of society's miscreants.

Ted Van Halen · 12.06.07, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterlessIceness

So, how many of those people carry guns for self-defence?

I'd be willing to bet that plenty of them do. I'd also bet there are signs posted at every entrance to that mall stating that firearms are prohibited on the premises. So, law-abiding gun owners won't carry, because they are law-abiding gun owners. Yet some dip-shit with bad intent will waltz right in & kill a bunch of people w/ no regard for the neat little signs that say not to.

Ted

KRAMER5150 · 12.06.07, 05:51 AM

i usually carry mine even if it is posted other than a federal courthouse or some other gov bldg, but my main question is how do you get a sks(AK47) assault rifle into a mall without anyone noticing, people need to be more aware of what is going on around them instead of what is in front of them. i will deal with the ramifications after the fact for carrying my weapon....

ZORBA5150 · 12.06.07, 05:55 AM

Guns are for pussies