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Gunman's blog reveals plan for LA Fitness bloodbath
David Gardner in Los Angeles5 Aug 2009
A spurned boyfriend carrying a gun and a gym bag shot dead three women and injured more than a dozen others after opening fire at a packed American fitness centre last night.
The gunman walked into an aerobics studio where as many as 40 women were working out.
New details have now emerged that the shocking bloodbath had been planned in a sensational online diary.
George Sodini, 48, told of his plans on his blog, in which he revealed that he had tried to carry out an attack on the gym at least twice before.
The first time he failed to go through with his plan because he wanted to see the outcome of last year's American presidential election.
The second time, he wrote, he 'chickened out'.
Shocked eyewitnesses said he didn't say a word as he put his bag on the floor in the corner of the room, turned out the lights, and then began spraying bullets at his screaming victims using
a short-barrelled rifle.
Among the victims in the 8.15pm attack just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was said to be the killer's exgirlfriend.
Police said the man turned his gun on himself after the shooting. He did not say anything. He walked right to the room as if he knew where he was going and started shooting,' said Charles
Moffatt, superintendent of the police force in Collier Township, about twelve miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
I've never seen anything quite like this,' he added. It was very chaotic.' Panicked gym goers, many of them wounded or spattered with blood, scrambled for safety.
Girls were just ducking behind each other. All I could hear were shots and screams,' said Stacey Falk, 26, who said the killer was clean-shaven and short and dressed in workout clothes.
The rampage started just ten minutes after the start of a Latin Impact' aerobic dancing class at LA Fitness, part of a chain.
There's a good belief that the shooter is deceased. We're still in the infancy stages of the investigation. We have four confirmed deceased,' said Superintendent Moffat.
He looked out of place in a class full of women,' said one eyewitness. It was horrible. He was 20 feet from me. He got off a lot of shots.'
Ron Fleeher said the man held down his niece before shooting her. She said a couple of bullets went past her head and the gunman leaned down, straddled her and shot her in the shoulder,' he added.
Lauren Dooley, 26, was running on the treadmill and listening to her iPod when she heard the first shots ring out.
I saw people flying off the treadmills, hitting the ground for cover. We crawled through the fire escape and I turned around and there was one girl shot in the thigh and one girl shot in
the back.'
She said she heard twelve to fifteen rounds before the gunman killed himself. Others claimed there was as many as 40 or 50 shots.
Two handguns and a black duffel bag were recovered at the scene.
Police had still not identified the shooter or his victims early today
Reader views (32)
Jon in London:
Interesting how statistics can be presented to emphasize your viewpoint. You presented gun deaths per 100,000 population and included suicide's which helps your case against guns. But, do guns cause suicide? According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, suicide rates per 100,000 population for the same countries that you listed are:
USA 11.1
Italy 7.1
Switzerland 17.6
Canada 11.4
Finland 20.1
Australia 10.9
France 17.6
England 6.8
Scotland 16.0
Japan 23.7
So do guns cause suicide? Maybe in some cases. But look at Japan which virtually outlaws guns and they have the highest suicide rate of the countries listed. And realize that in the USA, the rates that you gave were for all gun related deaths. People are going to kill others regardless of laws, tools available, or.... Maybe society plays a larger role as morale values decline. When I was a youngster, students would bring their rifles and shotguns to school to hunt game after school let out, and yet, no one was killing each other.
- John, San Diego, CA, 06/08/2009 17:31
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The question to ask is: How many violent crimes have been prevented because someone used a gun in self defense? Those stories don't make the news, but those stories are part of the reason that we yanks tend to be attached to our guns. It's also fairly difficult to keep tyranny in check if you aren't armed, though I shouldn't wonder that most "moderns" wouldn't grasp the need to be able to resist their own government...after all, the government takes care of you, doesn't it?
- Jlg, Bryan, TX USA, 06/08/2009 00:15
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I can only imagine what a horrible time these girls must have had, having a guy with such powerful guns firing at will is no easy thing to go through.
I wonder with the US government will ever change their laws about guns.
- Victor, Olinda, Brazil, 05/08/2009 23:11
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Why is it so difficult for otherwise intelligent people to grasp the concept that gun restrictions don't hinder criminals, and criminals are the problem, not law abiding gun owners. Most states in the US could do a better job of enforcing current gun laws and I'm all I'm favor of that.
I'm a law abiding, sane, and intelligent American who happens to have a gun license. Had I, or someone like me, been at that gym some of those women might still be alive. Take my gun away, however, and the shooting still takes place. Anyone can get a gun, regardless of the law.
- David, Boston- USA, 05/08/2009 22:50
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Have you been to the southern part of the US? I think the monkey analogy is right on. You don't need an intelligence test to own a gun. You don't need a mental health test to own a gun. All you need is the funds and a clean record.
- Hannah, Florida USA, 05/08/2009 20:07
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"Well if you believe this, I dare you to sit in a room full of monkeys playing with a pile of guns."
What a ridiculous analogy to make. Unless you are suggesting that this sort of thing happens somewhere? But no - you couldn't be suggesting that the monkeys are the gun owners could you? That would be pre-judging them then using that judgement to condemn them after the fact (I get dizzy just trying to stay with that circular thinking), and a fair minded guy like you wouldn't do that - would you? Yeah right!
You can't sensibly make an impossibly contrived scenario into a rationale for a serious issue. The sad thing is that there are probably some out there sitting nodding their heads in agreement as they read this nonsensical argument.
- Rogan, Irving, 05/08/2009 19:20
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"Relaxed gunlaws in the US"????
Not quite. It is only the anti-gun lobby that complain of that. Most others don't see the endless nit-pick restrictions in the same light.
Take away individual right to protect self and family, which is the end product of disarming individuals, and you leave the door open for all of the criminals who couldn't care less about gun control OTHER THAN AS A CONVENIENCE FOR THEMSELVES.
Statistics? Pick and choose to suit. One that isn't advertised by the mainstream media is that in ALL of the concealed carry (Concealed Handgun Licence) states of the US, violent crime is markedly reduced following introduction of the CHL laws. Another one is that percentages of CHL holders who commit gun crimes are massively lower than non-holders (yes, vetting works). The most violent areas? The worst, most numerous gangs fighting for drug money?
Inconvenient for the head in the sand types, but true none-the-less. Personally I wouldn't feel too happy that the police (might) avenge my violent demise or injuries at the hands of a violent criminal who cares nothing for peaceful co-existence. Primary defence of self is MY job - yet strangely enough, after 16 years I haven't gotten around to shooting anyone yet. Go figger!
If you want to put down other people, you really should know something about what you're talking about rather than listening to propaganda.
- Rogan, Irving, 05/08/2009 18:47
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As a person that lived in Britain before emigrating to the United States about 10 years ago. I love the fact that people without a felony record can carry a loaded weapon about their person, myself included (at least we can in PA). I have read about all of the knife attacks that happen in the UK now and I have to say, having lived in the UK for 25 years and the US for the last 10 years, I feel a whole lot safer in the US than I ever did in the UK. The fact that anyone may be carrying a loaded gun, makes people behave a lot more civilly and whilst I'm not going to pretend that bar fights and street attacks do not happen here, they are very, very rare.
- Richard, Pittsburgh, PA, 05/08/2009 15:54
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a nutter for sure. I'd like to see all the guns off the street
- Danny, Victoria BC, 05/08/2009 15:19
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They say, guns don't kill people, people kill people. Well if you believe this, I dare you to sit in a room full of monkeys playing with a pile of guns.
People with guns can shoot people. People without guns can't shoot people.
- Steve Harris, epping essex, 05/08/2009 15:14
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"Guns don't kill people. People kill people."
Funny, then, how killers always use a gun when they want to kill a lot of people.
- Pete, London, 05/08/2009 15:10
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"Croyboy is a fool."
Thank you for displaying your open-minded willingness to debate a subject objectively, Daniel.
You say "statistically you are more likely to shot dead if you own a gun." If you mean "be shot dead", yes, you're right - in the USA: that wasn't true of the UK when gun ownership was permitted. (...by our "betters" in Westminster!)
You also say "ban them all". They HAVE already been banned here, but unfortunately that doesn't stop the thugs getting hold of them. Similarly, experience shows, neither would increasing sentencing for possession.
Oh, and "Diplomat, Battersea", you say "just imagine you break in somewhere..." as the preamble to some kind of confused argument. No, I can't "imagine" anything of the sort, I'm afraid!
- Croyboy, Croydon, 05/08/2009 14:48
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Croyboy, from Croydon. Just what is the point of your comment? Encourage violence through violence? Great! How about educating people instead?
- Carole A, Paris, France, 05/08/2009 14:45
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Actually "Bongo" from USA, the name of the Gym is LA Fitness. It's a string of fitness centres across the US and the UK.
- Kate, London, 05/08/2009 14:45
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I am sure that some of the deaths in the chart below would still be committed with other weapons but just for reference, according to these figures, murders using a firearm are 26x higher in America than UK per 100,000 people. I am not judging, but I am sure that some people would be alive today in America if gun control had been introduced.
Gun related deaths per 100,000 population
Homicide Suicide Accident
USA (2001) 3.98 5.92 0.36
Italy (1997) 0.81 1.1 0.07
Switzerland (1998) 0.50 5.8 0.10
Canada (2002) 0.4 2.0 0.04
Finland (2003) 0.35 4.45 0.10
Australia (2001) 0.24 1.34 0.10
France (2001) 0.21 3.4 0.49
England/Wales(2002) 0.15 0.2 0.03
Scotland (2002) 0.06 0.2 0.02
Japan (2002) 0.02 0.04 0
BTW - there were 0.45 deaths due to knife crime in England and Wales. Knives are a growing problem.
- Jon, london,England, 05/08/2009 14:23
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"There's a good belief that the shooter is deceased. We're still in the infancy stages of the investigation".
What language is this person speaking...?? They must watch too many crime programmes.
- Haskey, London SE1, 05/08/2009 14:12
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What possible reason is there for mr and mrs everday to own a gun? I cannot understand the need or desire to own a firearm. The greater the proliferation of guns the greater the number of shootings. Simple.
Gun ownership should be restricted to those for whom it is an essential tool of their vocation. Anyone else found to be in possession of a gun should face a mandatory jail term. No excuses. No qualification.
- Simon, London, 05/08/2009 14:01
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Nolan, Londonist: my understanding of so-called "honour" killings is that they are not normally perpetrated by spurned lovers who then turn the gun on themselves: that would hardly accord with the inevitable religious/ cultural context lurking behind the murder. Please think before making tired comments based on race.
- Alan, London, 05/08/2009 13:56
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Nolan, Londonist:
You shouldn’t confuse ‘honour killings’... you know... the ones that are an acceptable part of ‘one particular culture’ and which occur with shocking regularity in certain parts of the Middle East and South Asia, target women whose actions – actual or suspected – violate the honour of their family, an honour which is thought to depend on the sexual purity of its female members. This particular incident is not the same...unfortunately just another ‘nut job’ ‘with a gun’ who can’t accept rejection
- Ade, London, 05/08/2009 13:46
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Croyboy
All the checks and balances that you propose miss out one vital component - whether the licenced gun owner is an idiot or not. It also will not be able to tell how the person will react when confronted - simulations are only an indication. People kill people but having guns, knives etc makes it a hell of a lot easier.
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 05/08/2009 13:45
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"Guns don't kill people. People kill people."
True, but the guns help.
- Bongo, New York, USA, 05/08/2009 13:23
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This was in Pennsylvania not Los Angeles. That's PA not LA.
- Bongo, New York, USA, 05/08/2009 13:22
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Well said, Lee W! The problem is the nature of American society, not gun ownership.
We should give British citizens with no criminal record the right to bear licensed arms - a right which citizens of every other EU state already have.
Then impose the death penalty for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and decriminalise the shooting dead of an intruder in your home.
- Pete J Garbett, Leicester, England, 05/08/2009 13:16
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Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 05/08/2009 12:47
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Another "honour" killing, which won't be labelled as that because the perpetrator is white.
- Nolan, Londonist, 05/08/2009 12:11
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"Croyboy is a fool. more guns more deaths"
Except in Canada where they have MORE guns per head than the USA but a much lower deathrate.
For example in 2000 the United States' rate for robberies was 65 percent higher, its rate for aggravated assault was more than double and its murder rate was triple that of Canada.
In 2004 the murder rate in the U.S was 6 per 100,000, Canada was 1.82. There are 1 million hand guns in Canada, compared to 77 million in the United States.
- Lee W, London, 05/08/2009 11:41
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"THAT would provide some nasty shocks for the thugs, wouldn't it!"
It would Croyboy...just imagine you break in somewhere and hold a gun to your victim, he shoots you first (but not dead or the scenario wouldn't work) and gets sent down. Now that really would be a shock.
- Diplomat, Battersea, 05/08/2009 11:18
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Croyboy is a fool. more guns more deaths, statistically you are more likely to shot dead if you own a gun. ban them all, increase sentencing for possesion
- Daniel D, london, 05/08/2009 11:10
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It doesn't matter if you can pass checks on your mental stability, mental stability can change depending on the stresses of life. If you become disturbed enough to kill then having a gun will more likely lead to more people being killed.
- Paul R, London, 05/08/2009 10:58
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Another tragic advert for gun control in the "land of the free".
- C.Nichol, London, 05/08/2009 10:19
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Don't forget folks, support YOUR right to keep and bear arms.
...Having said that, we have a situation in the UK whereby all handguns are banned, which results in only violent criminals having them. NOT good. Given the situation in Britain today, I'm now in favour of the law-abiding being licensed to carry a gun after having had a CRO check, training, and obtained insurance (unlike in the States).
THAT would provide some nasty shocks for the thugs, wouldn't it!
- Croyboy, Croydon, 05/08/2009 09:54
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What a horrible crime. My thoughts go out to the victims and their families. But why does USA have such relaxed gun laws? I still fail to see the reason. It seems so easy to get hold of a gun in USA and i know people can get hold of guns here but perhaps not as easily. Though i guess we do have a knife-crime epidemic.
Sad world.
- Ak, Angel, London, 05/08/2009 09:51
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