# Alabama gunman kills 10; you still with us, Sampiro? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085 "2009-03-11T15:42:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/1 "2009-03-11T15:42:51Z")
So we have another flipped-out guy taking out a [bunch of folks](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/10/national/a200511D29.DTL&tsp=1) in a shooting spree, this time in Alabama. You and yours are not among the victims, I trust, **Sampiro**? Although, if so, you’d hardly be posting from the great beyond to tell us. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/2 "2009-03-11T15:54:38Z")
Oh, shit. Apparently, some of the killings took place in Kinston. A close friend of both mine and **Sampiro** ’s is from there. I need to contact her. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/3 "2009-03-11T16:00:55Z")
Added: I don’t believe **Sampiro** was anywhere near Kinston, Elba, or Samson. I’ll try to check in with him as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/4 "2009-03-11T16:08:49Z")
The story I heard said many of the victims were relatives of the gunman. Given some of **Sampiro’s** stories, and his recent lapse in happy pill supplies, I’m not sure if that increases or decreases his chances of having been involved, on either side of the gun. Here’s a hope that he wasn’t. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/5 "2009-03-11T16:10:32Z")
**Sampiro** ’s most recent post was around 1 a.m., so I’m pretty sure he is fine. I hope his and **Ogre** ’s friends and family are okay as well, and the same goes for our other posters in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/6 "2009-03-11T16:10:43Z")
**Sampiro** is fine. ETA: thanks, **Marley**. I’m fine as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/7 "2009-03-11T16:37:01Z")
Zomg, a shooting in the same state? I heard there’s a war someplace on Earth, I better call all my relatives and make sure they haven’t been butchered. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/8 "2009-03-11T17:01:16Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Zomg, a shooting in the same state? I heard there’s a war someplace on Earth, I better call all my relatives and make sure they haven’t been butchered. Be that as it may, this is threadshitting. Stop it. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/9 "2009-03-11T17:53:21Z")
There was speculation last night that the shooter had recently lost his job, but it turns out he actually QUIT his job this week, he wasn’t fired or laid off. So we can only speculate what this crazy guy’s whacked-out motive was. ☹ > [@Marley23](#): > > Be that as it may, this is threadshitting. Stop it. Perhaps his snarky tone was inappropriate for the forum, but seriously, I was thinking along the same lines. In a state with 4.5 million people, the statistical probability of 10 being anyone we know is so remote, it’s pointless to even consider, so why would anyone make that assumption? Especially since the names of the victims have been released already. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/10 "2009-03-11T17:55:14Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Perhaps his snarky tone was inappropriate for the forum, but seriously, I was thinking along the same lines. In a state with 4.5 million people, the statistical probability of 10 being anyone we know is so remote, it’s pointless to even consider, so why would anyone make that assumption? Especially since the names of the victims have been released already. Heaven forbid that anyone be concerned that a friend might be hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/11 "2009-03-11T18:05:26Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Perhaps his snarky tone was inappropriate for the forum, but seriously, I was thinking along the same lines. In a state with 4.5 million people, the statistical probability of 10 being anyone we know is so remote, it’s pointless to even consider, so why would anyone make that assumption? Nobody assumed **Sampiro** was dead, they just asked. It’s true- the chances of anyone we know being involved in the shootings are extremely remote (even if you know where in Alabama this happened and where our AL dopers live). But people were expressing concern and checking in, and making fun of them for it isn’t appropriate for this forum. > [@](#): > > Especially since the names of the victims have been released already. At the time this thread started, I don’t think that was the case. [Here’s the list, anyway.](http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/crime_courts/article/names_of_11_geneva_county_shooting_victims_released/63293/) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/12 "2009-03-11T19:21:05Z")
[Worth a thought?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10926656&postcount=27) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/13 "2009-03-11T20:10:59Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Perhaps his snarky tone was inappropriate for the forum, but seriously, I was thinking along the same lines. In a state with 4.5 million people, the statistical probability of 10 being anyone we know is so remote, it’s pointless to even consider, so why would anyone make that assumption? “You’re gay? I know a gay guy in Denver–maybe you know him?” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/14 "2009-03-12T02:42:30Z")
Just noticed the thread. I don’t live anywhere near there, but as Ogre said we have a good friend whose family is world famous in Kinston. Surprisingly for such a tiny town (about 600) she didn’t know any of the people involved to my knowledge. I love such lines in the media as these (from CNN earlier, but they seem to have changed it): > [@](#): > > it was believed that his own money trouble, combined with the bad economy, caused McLendon to snap. Yeah… cause killing sprees is what people do when the economy is bad and they’re broke. In fact they’re indicators: “Hold onto your GM stock for three, maybe four small town killing sprees, then it’ll go back up, at which time sell and buy Xerox”. Or my favorite of the media coverage of the “Michael McLendon Massacre” (as it’s alliteratively being called): The [What do you think made Michael McLendon snap?](http://www.zimbio.com/Michael+McLendon) Oooh, I know I know! He was fucking nuts! The end. It always pisses me when there’s an event like this (even though I’m really no emotionally closer to this one that most people living in Utah or Guam) that the media always. brings. on. the. same. fucking. experts. to try to explain it and make meaning of it and, God forbid, “help healing” when it’s utterly inexplicable, meaningless, and incapable of being healed for those affected by it [i.e. those who’ll still remember it six months from now, which I’ll admit freely probably excludes me] save for the dulling brought by time. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/15 "2009-03-12T03:33:02Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Or my favorite of the media coverage of the “Michael McLendon Massacre” (as it’s alliteratively being called): > > The [What do you think made Michael McLendon snap?](http://www.zimbio.com/Michael+McLendon) > > Oooh, I know I know! He was fucking nuts! The end. > > It always pisses me when there’s an event like this (even though I’m really no emotionally closer to this one that most people living in Utah or Guam) that the media always. brings. on. the. same. fucking. experts. to try to explain it and make meaning of it and, God forbid, “help healing” when it’s utterly inexplicable, meaningless, and incapable of being healed for those affected by it [i.e. those who’ll still remember it six months from now, which I’ll admit freely probably excludes me] save for the dulling brought by time. Wow, that’s an awfully simplistic way of looking at it. I, for one, sure would like to understand as much of the motivation as possible. If you’re interested – though I guess you aren’t, obviously – [here’s a related thread about the “why”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=417347). Besides, understanding why people do things may be key in preventing their future occurrence. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/16 "2009-03-12T05:44:35Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Or my favorite of the media coverage of the “Michael McLendon Massacre” (as it’s alliteratively being called): > > The [What do you think made Michael McLendon snap?](http://www.zimbio.com/Michael+McLendon) > > Oooh, I know I know! He was fucking nuts! The end. I voted for “Family Dispute”, though I suspect it certainly goes far, far beyond that. We’ll never know for sure, but most likely he had some kind of severe, ongoing issue with his family, perhaps even a problem _exacerbated_ by his family, and he finally snapped. People don’t just pick up a gun and start massacring others just because it feels like a fine day for a killin’ – not even crazy people do that. Someone, something drove him to the brink, and many innocents paid the price. It’s sad, and it’s tragic, but what’s even sadder is that most people merely shrug at these events and say, “He was nuts, couldn’t have been helped.” That’s such a defeatist way to look at it, because it does nothing to FIX the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/17 "2009-03-12T10:33:36Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > It’s sad, and it’s tragic, but what’s even sadder is that most people merely shrug at these events and say, “He was nuts, couldn’t have been helped.” That’s such a defeatist way to look at it, because it does nothing to FIX the problem. This problem is already beyond fixing. As far as preventing similar situations, I’m sure more can be done to improve awareness of mental health issues and to reduce stigma, but seriously, this guy burned his mother alive and went on a shooting spree. Maybe the even that set him off was having a family fight or losing his job, but are you proposing we don’t fight with our families anymore and that people stop being fired? Most people get through those situations without killing a bunch of people. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/18 "2009-03-12T11:29:38Z")
What about ME?? Doesn’t anybody want to know if I’m OK? Nobody loves me! _sniffle_ Seriously, though, glad to know that **Ogre** and **Sampiro** –and their friend–are all right. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/19 "2009-03-12T15:33:11Z")
I’m glad you’re okay, **Sampiro** and **Chanteuse**. Wasn’t our Doper **John Carter of Mars** in Alabama? I don’t remember having seen him post in a long time. I don’t want him to feel left out, too! ---
**Author:** ![DCTrekkie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dctrekkie/32/18862_2.png) [@DCTrekkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCTrekkie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gunman-kills-10-you-still-with-us-sampiro/489085/20 "2009-03-12T22:47:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It always pisses me when there’s an event like this (even though I’m really no emotionally closer to this one that most people living in Utah or Guam) that the media always. brings. on. the. same. fucking. experts. to try to explain it Have they linked it to computer games yet?