Local Massacre

[Danne]

So this morning, somebody across town decided that murdering eight people and and then killing himself was preferable to getting fired for stealing from his employer. At least two others injured, one of whom is still in critical condition last I checked. The whole town's pretty shaken up; I understand we even made national news.

Not sure what words to choose now. "People suck" comes to mind, but that seems harsh given that normal people don't generally commit mass murder, so there had to be something else going on here. Maybe I'll be more eloquent once I've gotten some sleep.

[Keld Denar]

Wow, thats terrible. My condolences to you and your community. Something like this affects everyone.

Where was this?

[MeatShield#236]

Oh, man, I saw that on MSN. My deepest sympathies towards you and your community.

[Jack Squat]

Manchester, Connecticut. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/08/03/2010-08-03_death_toll_spikes_to_8_plus_shooter_in_workplac e_shooting_at_connecticut_beer_di.html)

It's a tragedy for those involved, but according to reports his targets were people who discriminated against him. His actions weren't justifiable, but this also wasn't simply a case of a guy snapping because he got caught stealing beer.

[Danne]

Connecticut. Town near Hartford (the capital). Here's (http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/hartford_cty/manchester-shooting-) a news article, if anyone's interested.

And thanks. Everyone's pretty shaken and jumpy. This morning we didn't even know what all was happening, just that there had been a shooting. Lots of rumors flying around -- my boss was convinced there was a manhunt going on and we were going to need to move the kids (I work at a summer camp) into a lock down. And they haven't released the names of all the casualties, but apparently one of my cousins lost a friend. And I'm just...tired, and feeling particularly jaded. :smallfrown:

@^: It seems clear that there was some racial discrimination and harassment directed against him at work, and that the supervisor he reported this to did nothing to stop it. But everything I've read and heard indicates the victims were random. I didn't read the full article you linked to, but it quotes the shooter as saying he "killed the five racists that were bothering [him]" (emphasis mine) -- he shot ten people, eight of whom are dead now. So it seems to me there's more to it than that.

Or maybe I'm just trying to inject sense into something completely illogical.

[Jack Squat]

From what I've been reading, he shot and killed two of the 3 people who were escorting him out, wounding the other. After this, he probably seeked out those who were harrassing him - depending on reports. The one I linked states that a witness saw him shooting some but sparing others, and in particular that he spared a lady in a wheelchair. There's another article that has a statement saying that he killed people "for absolutely no reason at all, people who've never said an unkind word to him. ... He was just shooting at anyone that was near him and just cruelty beyond cruelty." Since he was described as calm, I'm more apt to believe that he more or less chose his targets, though I suppose we'll never know.

The others that were killed/injured may have been random, he could have had unknown reasons for going after them, or they could have been collateral damage from missed rounds.


The lesson to be learned here, if there is one, is to be cool with your fellow co-workers. You never know if one of them might snap someday.

[Lycan 01]

I've been watching the news all day (nothing better to do, really) and I've seen a lot of coverage on it. Pretty sad story. According to the latest reports, he was fired for stealing some beer, which they caught on camera. After being fired, he was supposed to be escorted from the meeting and out of the building. Well, somewhere along the way he drew a gun and just started shooting people. They've only confirmed a few of the victims, but one of them was actually the Union Representative assigned to defend him at the meeting. And according to some witnesses, one of the victims got killed because he stopped and told another group of workers that they were running the wrong way. So he saved their lives at the cost of his own. The shooter then held the police at bay for about an hour, calling his mother at some point, before finally shooting himself. The news said the standoff is probably what kept most of the victims from being treated in time.

Overall, quite tragedy. :smallfrown:


Oddly enough, the news mentioned that several thousand - I forgot the exact number - people are killed each year in workplace violence. I don't know if they meant nationally or globabally. Seems like you'd hear more stories like this, or they'd at least get more coverage, if it really happens that much. :smalleek:

[Serpentine]

Just the other day, I read up on Tasmania's Port Arthur Massacre, about... 14? years ago. It was horrifying. Definitely not to belittle this tragedy, but at least he did spare some people. The Port Arthur guy executed, among 30-odd others, a mother and her two young daughters :smallfrown: :smalleek:

[rakkoon]

That would shake up your world. Best of luck to you and your community in processing this.

Very near to where I live a guy got into a daycare and killed 2 nine year olds and a sitter with a knife, twelve other children were stabbed but lived.

Philosophy and religion aside, these things should never happen. The fact that they do just make you wonder and think about life.

Enjoy it...help each other.

[Killer Angel]

I've heard it yesterday evening, it was terrible. :smallfrown:
You have my sympathy. *hugs*

[Mystic Muse]

My thoughts go out to the families of the victims and any who are affected by this.

[Tirian]

Oddly enough, the news mentioned that several thousand - I forgot the exact number - people are killed each year in workplace violence. I don't know if they meant nationally or globabally. Seems like you'd hear more stories like this, or they'd at least get more coverage, if it really happens that much. :smalleek:

If it were up to me, we'd hear less about them. This is going to be front page news for a week now, because we feel this need to understand an act that is truly senseless. And it's going to spawn side discussions on any number of mostly unrelated topics because so many people feel like they have the "solution" to this "problem". Personally, I'd rather leave the victims alone to deal with their grief privately and give the police enough space to do whatever they have to do.

[SoD]

Just the other day, I read up on Tasmania's Port Arthur Massacre, about... 14? years ago. It was horrifying. Definitely not to belittle this tragedy, but at least he did spare some people. The Port Arthur guy executed, among 30-odd others, a mother and her two young daughters :smallfrown: :smalleek:

I remember that, I was seven at the time. More recently, I was ten km away from a school shooting in Finland (three? years ago). Always a harrowing experience to be nearby stuff like that. Although I wouldn't use the term 'executed', rather 'murdered'.

[Serpentine]

I used the word quite deliberately. Look it up. It was after he left the Port Arthur prison itself. "Execution" is quite apt.

[Danne]

...depending on reports. The one I linked states that a witness saw him shooting some but sparing others, and in particular that he spared a lady in a wheelchair. There's another article that has a statement saying that he killed people "for absolutely no reason at all, people who've never said an unkind word to him. ... He was just shooting at anyone that was near him and just cruelty beyond cruelty."...

There are so many rumors and incorrect stories flying about, it's hard to know for sure what happened. All we can know for sure is that he was caught on camera stealing, was fired, and killed eight people, and the racial discrimination may have been a factor. And that's all we may every know, unfortunately.

The irony is that if part of his intention was to punish the people who were harassing him, his actions have ensured that their legacies will be honored while his own is tarnished forever. His victims will be honored with candlelight vigils and memorial services for years to come; the fact that he was originally (some of) their victim will only be mentioned as a side note.

[Cealocanth]

That is some bad news. First and foremost, you have my sympathy.

Second of all, I suggest preparing for some really tight laws being enforced because of the heat that's caused by it. I'm still feeling the effects of Columbine.

[RandomNPC]

No kinds of good here, my workplace just fired a guy for harrassing a co-worker, a temp service wouldn't take him because they filed the offical firing as sexual harassment, and he's got a lawer because they didn't tell him it was sexual harassment, just harassment, so he thinks it's unlawfull firing. He's also sending in letters that if they don't settle and give him piles of money he's going to sell company secrets to competitors. He was a general worker in production, he knows nothing, but as soon as we get a court date he's going to be a bit upset, and he's had anger management issues before...

the entire shops nervous, we lock the doors except at shift change, and the guy he was harassing is a loudmouth who's not keeping his calm at all. When we heard of this we hit a new level of shop-wide paranoia.

anyway, my point is I agree with the people who said national coverage is bad, let those who need to greive, and let law enforcement do what needs done.

[Danne]

Things seem to be getting back to normal around here, finally, though of course the media refuses to drop the matter. We drove by there the other day with a bus full of kids; all the counselors got tense but the kids were just excited to see the t.v. cameras, which was kind of refreshing.

Thank you so much for everyone's sympathy and well wishes. It really meant a lot to me, personally, and I'm sure that knowing those feelings are out there are helping the rest of the community put the pieces back together. :smallsmile:

[Dmatix]

The case you mentioned is reminiscent to one that happened in a city near the one I live. A disgruntled employee, who got fired for stealing booze from a restaurant, went to his employers house and killed him, his wife, his parents, and his two young children, in cold blood. You have to wonder what goes through these people heads, how can they possibly rationalize such actions.