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US gym gunman's 'internet plans' | US gym gunman's 'internet plans' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A 48-year-old US man who opened fire in a Pennsylvania gym, killing three women and himself, appeared to have written about his plans for the attack. | A 48-year-old US man who opened fire in a Pennsylvania gym, killing three women and himself, appeared to have written about his plans for the attack. |
A website linked to George Sodini described, over a nine-month period, his intentions to carry out a shooting. | A website linked to George Sodini described, over a nine-month period, his intentions to carry out a shooting. |
The author wrote about purchasing guns and appeared to chide himself for lacking courage to complete his plan. | The author wrote about purchasing guns and appeared to chide himself for lacking courage to complete his plan. |
Authorities were unable to confirm if the website, which has now been taken down, belonged to Sodini. | |
One entry, dated 6 January 2009, read: "It is 8:45PM: I chickened out! I brought the loaded guns, everything. Hell!" | One entry, dated 6 January 2009, read: "It is 8:45PM: I chickened out! I brought the loaded guns, everything. Hell!" |
Sodini also injured 10 people when he opened fire with a pair of guns during a women's exercise class at a branch of LA Fitness in the town of Bridgeville, near Pittsburgh. | |
Eyewitnesses have described how the gunfire seemed like flashes in the dark after Sodini turned out the lights on entering the class, which was being attended by about 30 women. | Eyewitnesses have described how the gunfire seemed like flashes in the dark after Sodini turned out the lights on entering the class, which was being attended by about 30 women. |
The victims were named by authorities as 46-year-old Heidi Overmier, Elizabeth Gannon, 49, and Jody Billingsley, 38. | |
'No control' | 'No control' |
Sodini appeared to have planned the attack since at least November 2008, the Associated Press reports. | Sodini appeared to have planned the attack since at least November 2008, the Associated Press reports. |
George Sodini lamented his lack of friends or lovers | George Sodini lamented his lack of friends or lovers |
Other entries on the blog described struggles with alcoholism and an inability to form relationships with women. | Other entries on the blog described struggles with alcoholism and an inability to form relationships with women. |
"The biggest problem of all is not having relationships or friends, but not being able to achieve and acquire what I desire in those or many other areas," a recent entry, dated 2 August, reads. | "The biggest problem of all is not having relationships or friends, but not being able to achieve and acquire what I desire in those or many other areas," a recent entry, dated 2 August, reads. |
"Everything stays the same regardless of the effert [sic] I put in. If I had control over my life then I would be happier. But for the past 30 years, I have not." | "Everything stays the same regardless of the effert [sic] I put in. If I had control over my life then I would be happier. But for the past 30 years, I have not." |
Another complains: "Women just don't like me. There are 30 million desirable women in the US (my estimate) and I cannot find one." | |
The page ends with the words "Death Lives!". | |
Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said the attack appeared pre-meditated: "He did not say anything. He walked right into the room where the shootings occurred as if he knew exactly where he was going." | Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said the attack appeared pre-meditated: "He did not say anything. He walked right into the room where the shootings occurred as if he knew exactly where he was going." |
He said police would be seeking to establish whether anyone had read the website early enough to try to stop the shooting. | |
'Senseless act' | 'Senseless act' |
Stacey Falk, 26, who was in the class, described the panic as women in the room realised what was happening. | Stacey Falk, 26, who was in the class, described the panic as women in the room realised what was happening. |
"All of us girls were just ducking behind each other and it was just, you know, I was behind a girl, one of the girls in front to get hit," she told a local TV station. | "All of us girls were just ducking behind each other and it was just, you know, I was behind a girl, one of the girls in front to get hit," she told a local TV station. |
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
Others said they saw several women bleeding from bullet wounds to the legs, back and shoulder. | Others said they saw several women bleeding from bullet wounds to the legs, back and shoulder. |
Loretta Moss said she tried to help one woman who was shot in the leg. | Loretta Moss said she tried to help one woman who was shot in the leg. |
"She was screaming, 'It's burning, just please call the ambulance'," Ms Moss said. | "She was screaming, 'It's burning, just please call the ambulance'," Ms Moss said. |
One man who was in the gym at the time of the shooting said people ran into the complex bleeding. | One man who was in the gym at the time of the shooting said people ran into the complex bleeding. |
"One lady was shot in the leg, one lady was shot in the shoulder. We started picking her up and dragging her out," Richard Walker said. | "One lady was shot in the leg, one lady was shot in the shoulder. We started picking her up and dragging her out," Richard Walker said. |
The gym management said in a statement: "Each of us in the LA Fitness family are shocked and saddened by the senseless acts of violence that took place." | The gym management said in a statement: "Each of us in the LA Fitness family are shocked and saddened by the senseless acts of violence that took place." |
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