Breaking News - 4 dead at gym shooting outside Pittsburgh

[tomboudreau]

4 people have been killed including the gunman in a shooting at the LA Fitness facility just south and west of Pittsburgh. Heard anywhere between 8 and 10 others have been shot and injured. Man walked into facility, closed lights off in aerboic area and started shooting. Location is less then 4 miles from where I live. Heard a bunch of sirens while out walking the dog this evening and didnt know what was going on. Only found out when turning going online to see it on Pittsburgh Post Gazette's website.

Source - http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09216/988585-100.stm

[tomboudreau]

Update - 5 now confirmed dead in the shootings.

Source - http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09216/988585-100.stm

[southerngale]

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review is now reporting 6 dead.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_636758.html


This is horrible!

[Ptarmigan]

That's terrible! I remember the string of mass shootings earlier this year in Alabama, Germany, and New York.

[CajunMama]

I just don't understand what makes some people do things like this. Sad. So sad.

[tomboudreau]

One of the rumors that has been flying around is that this is a breakup gone back. Guytold his ex-girlfriend that he is going to kill her. She was supposedily at the class that was attacked. This is the 2nd big killing in Pittsburgh this year, as 3 city police officers where killed in the line of duty in April. Also, 10 years ago, a man went on a shooting spree at several business throughout the western suburbs of Pittsburgh. Kinda scarey as this was less then 5 miles from the house.

[Ad Novoxium]

I live about an hours drive from the area this occured in. I can't blame people for saying that it's usually quiet (I heard that a bit about this event), as most towns outside of Pittsburgh aren't that big (I moved to a small suburb-type town called Whitaker), so something like this isn't just tragic (and make no mistake about it, I was horrified when I saw the story), it's also a good bit jarring. My thoughts go out to all those affected.

[OpieStorm]

Wow....

http://backupurl.com/cache/723p65.html

This is George Sodini's (the shooter) blog. It's pretty bizarre. Loneliness tears away at a person's mind. I think we kind of take for granted how much meaningful interaction is needed for the health of a person.

Warning: Material in the blog may be offensive.

[Frank2]

Indeed - many of us here are adults who live alone and have the weather as our companion, in a sense, and that's good, but even that's not enough - the "human element" is always needed, similar to water for a flower...

Sadly, this man's actions have ruined many lives - violence is never the answer, even if he was that lonely...

I am biased when it comes to these stories, since I was once traveling with a group when a man who was also troubled ran into us and killed two of the people that I was with - God protected me that day, but as with those who survived yesterday's shooting, it took time to get over something like that, so I sincerely sympathize with what they are feeling now...

Ironically, the thought came to me that if the man responsible for yesterday's shooting had taken a different tact in life - say, opened his house to the neighborhood at Thanksgiving or Christmas, instead of brooding over his loneliness on the internet, he might have met the girl of his hopes...

Like others here, I have 3 nieces and nephews who live about 20-30 minutes north of where that happened, so, it's surprising to hear of violence in that area - here in South Florida it's common, unfortunately, but not in good 'ole western Pennsylvania...

Frank

[vbhoutex]

This man was DEEPLY TROUBLED for many years. It is amazing that apparently no one saw it in him. A master of deception?

[Frank2]

You'd think - but like Columbine and other shootings, there were signs that were probably missed...

As a neighbor of his said this morning, recently he was seen sitting in his driveway for a period of time (apparently he was sitting on the pavement) - even the reporter said that sounded unusual, so that was the window of opportunity for someone to call the police and report his unusual behavior - at least that would have opened the door for them to monitor his activity...

Frank

[southerngale]

You'd think - but like Columbine and other shootings, there were signs that were probably missed...

As a neighbor of his said this morning, recently he was seen sitting in his driveway for a period of time (apparently he was sitting on the pavement) - even the reporter said that sounded unusual, so that was the window of opportunity for someone to call the police and report his unusual behavior - at least that would have opened the door for them to monitor his activity...

Frank

More than just signs. Check out his blog above. He posted his plans online! They were there for months.



He was a total nutcase, as evidenced by his blog, and he wondered why he couldn't find a girlfriend. Uhhhh... because you were a psycho, maybe?

And now innocent women are dead.

[Stephanie]

You'd think - but like Columbine and other shootings, there were signs that were probably missed...

As a neighbor of his said this morning, recently he was seen sitting in his driveway for a period of time (apparently he was sitting on the pavement) - even the reporter said that sounded unusual, so that was the window of opportunity for someone to call the police and report his unusual behavior - at least that would have opened the door for them to monitor his activity...

Frank

More than just signs. Check out his blog above. He posted his plans online! They were there for months.


He was a total nutcase, as evidenced by his blog, and he wondered why he couldn't find a girlfriend. Uhhhh... because you were a psycho, maybe?

And now innocent women are dead.

My thoughts exactly.

Thank God the pregnant instructor survived by playing dead.

[vbhoutex]

His blog was password protected. He apparently didn't intend for it to be found till after he did it.

[Jinkers]

My prayers to the victims & their families.

What a shame, I do those workout classes at my gym, never thought about someone comming in shooting. There would be no place to hide where we do our classes.