Nine dead in Omaha mall shooting

[Andrew92]

You know, I realize I am going to sound very cold for saying this, but I feel it must be said.

The mall is not the place to do Christmas shopping for reasons like this. So many people means there's always a very real chance of just that one person doing this very thing. Instead of a mall, I would recommend shopping at various stores throughout safe areas of town that aren't very busy.

That said, may God be with the victims who died and those who are hospitalized, and may the gunman be forgiven, for he knows not what he did.

-Andrew92

[HURAKAN]

It's so stupid when people waste their lives and the lives of so many innocent people for nothing.

[TexasStooge]

Oh, Geez! NOT AGAIN!!!!

[senorpepr]

You know, I realize I am going to sound very cold for saying this, but I feel it must be said.

The mall is not the place to do Christmas shopping for reasons like this. So many people means there's always a very real chance of just that one person doing this very thing. Instead of a mall, I would recommend shopping at various stores throughout safe areas of town that aren't very busy.

That said, may God be with the victims who died and those who are hospitalized, and may the gunman be forgiven, for he knows not what he did.

-Andrew92

First, I disagree. This sort of thing can happen anywhere. Yeah, this event happened at the mall, but this could happen at the airport, at Wal-Mart, on the drive to work, anywhere. Going to various stores doesn't prevent this. I live in Omaha. I shop at this mall. I was just at this mall a few days ago. My local Wal-Mart and Target are more busy on any "idle" Wednesday afternoon than this place was--on an "idle" Wednesday afternoon at 1:42pm. (Note... out of the eight people who were killed... only two were shoppers. The other six were employees. Also, I say eight people were killed because I will not count the gunman.)

Secondly, you mention shopping at stores "throughout safe areas of town". This mall is probably one of the nicest (if not THE nicest) in this region. In addition, it's in a very safe location too. Out of all the malls in this area, this has the lowest crime rate... for both the mall and for the surrounding region. Being in Nebraska, I may venture and say it could be one of the safest malls--for it's size--in the country. (and I've been to many malls throughout this country of ours...)

We can't run our lives scared. We can't avoid shopping at malls because of a random, extremely rare incident where a depressed kid feels he needs to "go out in style." Just like we can't avoid flying in planes or going into large buildings because a handful of religious extremists. Unfortunately, these are the everyday risks associated with life. Just because I can get into a car accident at anytime doesn't keep me from driving.

[Squarethecircle]

Your toilet is much, much more dangerous than an armed psycho in a mall near Christmas time (statistically, of course). Instead, I suggest going to the bathroom in much safer places, like your backyard.

Falling off toilets and getting attacked by a homicidal maniac are similar in one fundamental way: they exist and are unavoidable. You don't stop driving your car because the benefits outweigh the risks. That is the essence of efficiency.

[Andrew92]

You know, I realize I am going to sound very cold for saying this, but I feel it must be said.

The mall is not the place to do Christmas shopping for reasons like this. So many people means there's always a very real chance of just that one person doing this very thing. Instead of a mall, I would recommend shopping at various stores throughout safe areas of town that aren't very busy.

That said, may God be with the victims who died and those who are hospitalized, and may the gunman be forgiven, for he knows not what he did.

-Andrew92

First, I disagree. This sort of thing can happen anywhere. Yeah, this event happened at the mall, but this could happen at the airport, at Wal-Mart, on the drive to work, anywhere. Going to various stores doesn't prevent this. I live in Omaha. I shop at this mall. I was just at this mall a few days ago. My local Wal-Mart and Target are more busy on any "idle" Wednesday afternoon than this place was--on an "idle" Wednesday afternoon at 1:42pm. (Note... out of the eight people who were killed... only two were shoppers. The other six were employees. Also, I say eight people were killed because I will not count the gunman.)

Secondly, you mention shopping at stores "throughout safe areas of town". This mall is probably one of the nicest (if not THE nicest) in this region. In addition, it's in a very safe location too. Out of all the malls in this area, this has the lowest crime rate... for both the mall and for the surrounding region. Being in Nebraska, I may venture and say it could be one of the safest malls--for it's size--in the country. (and I've been to many malls throughout this country of ours...)

We can't run our lives scared. We can't avoid shopping at malls because of a random, extremely rare incident where a depressed kid feels he needs to "go out in style." Just like we can't avoid flying in planes or going into large buildings because a handful of religious extremists. Unfortunately, these are the everyday risks associated with life. Just because I can get into a car accident at anytime doesn't keep me from driving.

I see what you're saying, and you have some very good points. It just seems like any mall, no matter how safe it appears, is asking for trouble, to me anyway. Don't get me wrong, I would rather shop at a mall than at WalMart (ugh ugh ugh). And I'm not trying to act scared about going to a mall during the holidays. I am aware of everyday risks, such as driving a car. I guess I just prefer to go to places where there aren't as many people. But then, I've never been one to follow the crowd anyway. (If you follow the crowd, you're bound to get lost in it.)

Do you see where I'm coming from a little better now?

-Andrew92

[Andrew92]

And one more thing:

Keep in mind I'm originally from Michigan. Michigan has several cities that are notorious for high crime (Detroit, Flint, Lansing, etc.), so I learned that you have to be very careful in an urban setting. Grand Rapids was a couple steps above those cities, but it still had its problems in places. Believe me, there is nothing scarier than running into a trashy thug (which has happened to me, BTW), and living in Michigan, I learned that that can happen just about in any city.

-Andrew92

[gtalum]

Whatever you do, don't drive anywhere. That's statistically by far the most dangerous thing the vast majority of us ever do.

[senorpepr]

I think I understood your point from the get-go. I was just trying to explain it from the Omahan point of view. Like I said before, don't think that this is your typical, big-city mega mall packed for the holidays. This is Nebraska. Yeah, it's good size for this area, but it was not "packed." As I mentioned before, Wal-Mart, Target, Shop-Ko... they have more people inside them than the Von Maur at Westroads.

[senorpepr]

Whatever you do, don't drive anywhere. That's statistically by far the most dangerous thing the vast majority of us ever do.

Actually... I thought thinking was the most dangerous thing the vast majority of us ever does, you know... statistically speaking.

[Squarethecircle]

No, because if we didn't think, then that would be (statistically) the most dangerous thing we could do (regardless of the fact that it would be the only thing we could do.)

Understand?

[Andrew92]

I think I understood your point from the get-go. I was just trying to explain it from the Omahan point of view. Like I said before, don't think that this is your typical, big-city mega mall packed for the holidays. This is Nebraska. Yeah, it's good size for this area, but it was not "packed." As I mentioned before, Wal-Mart, Target, Shop-Ko... they have more people inside them than the Von Maur at Westroads.

OK, thanks for explaining that more clearly. I've never been to Omaha so I can't really say what that city is like.

And I'm definitely not saying don't ever drive; I have to drive every day too (or at least, almost every day). I'm just saying, you can never be too careful, even in a "safe" area.

-Andrew92

[Ptarmigan]

You know, I realize I am going to sound very cold for saying this, but I feel it must be said.

The mall is not the place to do Christmas shopping for reasons like this. So many people means there's always a very real chance of just that one person doing this very thing. Instead of a mall, I would recommend shopping at various stores throughout safe areas of town that aren't very busy.

That said, may God be with the victims who died and those who are hospitalized, and may the gunman be forgiven, for he knows not what he did.

-Andrew92

Many mass shootings usually happen in areas where crime rates are lower or in some cases no murders have happened in years. Blacksburg and Littleton come to mind. Most mass killings like the one we saw usually happen at home and are usually family annhilators.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Whatever you do, don't drive anywhere. That's statistically by far the most dangerous thing the vast majority of us ever do.

Actually... I thought thinking was the most dangerous thing the vast majority of us ever does, you know... statistically speaking.

I agree with that Senorpepr. When I got my Severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
with Paranoid Fears
about 1.5 years ago it was the thinking and constant compulsions that landed
me in a hospital and I had to be bedridden at home for 6 months because
the OCD was so bad....

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Also my prayers go out to the families.

[senorpepr]

Eh.... I reckon this is noteworthy...


BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue police on Thursday afternoon arrested a teenage friend of Westroads Mall shooter Robert A. Hawkins.

David Horvath, 17, was handcuffed and taken into custody on suspicion of making text threats against another student. Authorities said guns were also taken from Horvath's home.

Bellevue Police Chief John Stacey said Horvath is charged with making terroristic threats.
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Stacey said Horvath was upset that the student he threatened had said bad things about Hawkins.

Stacey said he doesn't have evidence that Horvath was part of the Von Maur shooting.

http://www.ketv.com/news/14793643/detail.html

[cycloneye]

Chilling images of the gunman.

[tropicana]

indeed chilling pictures!

apart from all the turmoil he has caused with his actions, to his family, to the victims and to their families, to the store employees, and to the Mall employees , even the bigger picture to the businesses in the Westroads Mall who have had to remain closed ever since 1:42pm on Wednesday, businesses that depend on sales this time of the year especially to make their Christmas budgets. Stores are gonna reopen up on Sat Dec 8 at the mall, but they will also have extra security, meaning extra expenses, less shoippers for sure with this still fresh in everyone's minds.

So by his actions, he has affected a much larger amount of people than he may even have realised. The real answers to this tragedy may have gone down the drain with him when he pulled the trigger on himself that fateful day. What he must have been going through to do such an evil act, most of us cannot ever probably imagine, since not everyone who gets depressed as this, does such terrible actions. No excusing what this guy did, absolutely not, but society has to wake up and see that we must stop and slow down and take notice of other fellow human beings around us who may be trying to reach out to us in their own ways, but maybe we are too busy to even notice, most especially at this time of the year.

To all the victim's families, i'm so very sorry. We won't soon forget

-justin-

[senorpepr]

Von Maur Shooter's Mother Says She Sensed Something Amiss

OMAHA, Neb. -- The mother of the Westroads Mall shooter said she knew something was wrong when she had dinner with her son the night before he went on a shooting rampage.

In an interview Thursday morning on ABC's "Good Morning America," Robert Hawkins' mother, Maribel "Molly" Rodriguez, said she's been thinking about those who died.

Hawkins, 19, killed himself after shooting eight people inside Von Maur on Dec. 5. Rodriguez said she is facing the horror left by the actions of her son, and dealing with losing her child.

"My son took the lives of eight people and killed himself. My most beloved baby boy did that.

"I was dead, too," she said in comments shared with KETV NewsWatch 7 on Wednesday. "I am thinking now that my life is over. There is nothing I can do anymore. What is done is done."

Rodriguez also told ABC News that people need to know she's sorry.

"Please forgive me and please forgive my little Robert," she said.

Hawkins ate dinner with his mother the night before at her ex-husband's house. Rodriguez said her son talked about being fired from McDonald's, and that after dinner he went online to fill out a job application at a nearby nursing home.

She said Hawkins gave her and his sisters hugs and kisses goodbye. She now says she thinks Hawkins knew what he was about to do to the next day. She said she sensed something wasn't quite right, so she checked his stepfather's gun closet and she thought one of the guns was missing.

Rodriguez said she thought Hawkins had taken the gun to sell or pawn. She said she never thought he would have used it to do what he did.

On Wednesday, Hawkins sent his ex-girlfriend a text message, in essence apologizing for breaking up with her. He also left his mother a voice mail that said: "Mommy, I love you. I'm sorry. I will talk to you later."

After receiving that message, Rodriguez went to the home where Hawkins was living. The son of the woman Hawkins was staying with found his suicide letters.

Rodriguez took the notes to the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department in the hour before the shooting. She said she found out about the scene at Westroads Mall through a friend's phone call.

She said she felt better when police showed her the photo of an initial suspect who was not her son.

Then, at about 4 p.m. last Wednesday, Rodriguez found out that the gunman was dead and he fit her son's description. She found out it was her son three hours later.

"I know why they would hate Robert, but for their sake, don't harbor the hate," Rodriguez said to victims' families.

She said she doesn't know why her son chose Westroads.

Hawkins has been memorialized and buried, ABC News reported.

[senorpepr]

My family and I went to Westroads this evening to do some Christmas shopping. I must say... seeing the memorial at each of the entrances for Van Maur was impressive. Furthermore, after living here for a few years... it's nice seeing that mall PACKED. I've never seen that many people inside Westroads before. ...and there wasn't this eerie feeling you'd expect. Other than the memorials and those pausing at those memorials, it was like nothing happened.


(and the best part of all--my baby boy was SO GOOD. Although he was awake, he didn't cry at all!)