Incident
On Tuesday Michael McLendon, a 28-year old who recently quit his job, carried out a rampage shooting across two small towns in southern Alabama, killing 10 people including several family members.
Analysis
From the evidence that is emerging, it was clear this was a planned shooting, rather than an impulsive act. According to Wednesday evening's update on MSNBC.com, a list found at McLendon's home indicated he had targeted several of those individuals and other entities as well, including two companies where he used to work, several former co-workers and supervisors, and his mother's former employer. Those listed were people McLendon felt had wronged him. In the latest update on MSNBC.com, the Coffee County District Attorney, Gary McAliley said. “It’s obvious to me he had planned doing this kind of thing and had for some time."Authorities also said the amount of ammunition that McLendon had suggested he may have intended to kill far more people than he did.
This analysis is a preliminary one, as information about McLendon and his attack is just beginning to emerge. It will be interesting to see what other pre-attack concerns may emerge as the investigation unfolds. Many workplace and rampage shooters tell other people about their plans for attack in advance - whether in person, on Web sites or in chat rooms, or even through videos posted on the Internet. In addition, many concern multiple people around them by engaging in very troubling or disturbing behavior before they ever do harm. And many are suicidal before carrying out their shootings. As the investigation progresses, it is possible that we will learn more about McLendon and about the behaviors he showed prior to his rampage shooting.
