NE - Eight killed, 4 injured in Westroads Mall shooting, Omaha, 5 Dec 2007

[Taximom]

He was staying with a "Deborah", a mom of 2 boys. One of her sons befriended him as he said he was homeless. She took him in. He worked in a fast food place near that home. She felt like she was a mother to him. Young man's family from La Vista. (Couldn't hear that city name very well.)

 

[heavenlydaze]

Here's more from his landlady

"The woman who owns that house at 4302 McCartey Drive, who only gave her first name of Debra, said Hawkins had a lot of emotional instability. She said she thought he was turning things around. She said he had just learned that he was fired from McDonald's...."

Link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22119725/

 

[Marthatex]

A psychologist just the other day, was saying (in regard to the hostage thing at HIllary's office); the "losing a job is one of the big triggers", for this sort of thing.

Why is it always a boy or man that does this type of thing? It boggles my mind.

I sure hope no one has died or the injuries are minor. Please, just kill yourself....IMO

 

[Marthatex]

Yes, as a matter of fact we DO need metal detectors at the mall, just like Israel.

Or really heavy security, we have some policeman on the Sedgways now; they're really neat. But they just can't be everywhere.

I've always thought that malls would be one of our next terrorism locations. There's "domestic" terrorism, and there's foreign terrorism.

It still can kill many, or even masses of people, no matter which kind of terrorism it is. (Oklahoma City bombing?)

 

[Marthatex]

My husband says at least 9 people are dead.

It's another mass shooting. This is just too much for me - I don't like being afraid of going shopping or seeing a movie. This is just terrible; an invasion of our very way of life.

Hasn't this particular mall been hit before - it sounds familiar to me.

Sorry folks, if he used an assault weapon, enough is enough. We've got to get rid of them, like Australia and other countries have done.

It's not "bad" people that just get guns; it's disturbed people.

I'm glad Maral's relative wasn't involved.

 

[Beyond Belief]

fox is doing some interviews right now of folks that were there and one guy who was shot.

 

[englishleigh]

We have posters from Omaha. Kelly Jolkowski is one I can think of right off the bat. KELLY, PLEASE CHECK IN, AND ALL OTHERS!!!!

 

[Dark Knight]

May the Lord be with the victims of this horrible crime, especially so close to Christmas.

President Bush had just left Omaha an hour before the shooting!

 

[philamena]

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-now-robberyfolo.1205,0,1588931.story

A shooting happened at a mall near me also. Luckily, no one was killed.

 

[Marthatex]

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-now-robberyfolo.1205,0,1588931.story

A shooting happened at a mall near me also. Luckily, no one was killed.

Things like this tend to happen during the holidays; people get more depressed.

President Bush was there; but I don't think the shooting had any relationship to that fact.

 

[Marthatex]

May the Lord be with the victims of this horrible crime, especially so close to Christmas.

President Bush had just left Omaha an hour before the shooting!

Yes DK; no one deserves to be shot randomly. I hope there were no children shot.

We need to pray for all the poor families.

 

[Marthatex]

How horrible. This is beyond words. Prayers for the families.

Did any children die? My husband says he DID use an assault weapon - but rumors fly and the news is often not accurate at first.

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Thanks for thinking of me. All in the family are ok. Since they have not released the names of the 9 victims, I don't know if they could be friends. Odds are against it as this is a big city.

On the news, they just said that police only have a partial list of the deceased. Why, I don't know.

There will be so much fallout from this, not only from the victim families, other shoppers and employees, and anyone who knew Hawkins, but the tremendous guilt that must be felt by the person who fired him from McDonald's this morning, and the family who tried to help him, etc.

May God give strength to all involved.

 

[crypto6]

My husband says at least 9 people are dead.

It's another mass shooting. This is just too much for me - I don't like being afraid of going shopping or seeing a movie. This is just terrible; an invasion of our very way of life.

Hasn't this particular mall been hit before - it sounds familiar to me.

Sorry folks, if he used an assault weapon, enough is enough. We've got to get rid of them, like Australia and other countries have done.

It's not "bad" people that just get guns; it's disturbed people.

I'm glad Maral's relative wasn't involved.

Our Constitution has something to say about firearms; they're here to stay. I hate stuff like this as much as you and we have to find a way to prevent this and retain our A2 rights. Emotionally selecting a certain type of firearm which has a low frequency use in violent crime and recommending banning it makes no sense. Let's find out the hows and whys of this situation before we recommend constitutional amendments.

PS: What is an "assault weapon" anyway?

Crypto6

 

[JanetElaine]

Kelly I'm so glad you're safe, I was thinking about you too.

 

[Marthatex]

Our Constitution has something to say about firearms; they're here to stay. I hate stuff like this as much as you and we have to find a way to prevent this and retain our A2 rights. Emotionally selecting a certain type of firearm which has a low frequency use in violent crime and recommending banning it makes no sense. Let's find out the hows and whys of this situation before we recommend constitutional amendments.

PS: What is an "assault weapon" anyway?

Crypto6

You're WRONG. Assault weapons were banned for awhile, and the ban expired. These types of guns used to be only for the military. Weaponry and need for weaponry changes with the times, and the advancement of types of weapons. There are some weapons disturbed people don't need to be toting around.

Assault weapons kill many people, really, realy fast. YOU know what they are; you know the Constitution did not intend people to protect themselves with this type of weapon. It has nothing to with a Const. amendment; Congress banned assault weapons. Guilliani got rid of excess guns in NY. It's up to the discretion of the states and the voters.

That's like saying it's OK for me to have a small nuclear bomb and throw it out my door to protect my house. It destroys many people quickly.

Don't worry; as a victim of Charles Whitman, I know all about mass shootings. This is an inappropriate time to get into a "gun rights" discussion - we don't even know who has lived or died.

Don't worry, no one will take away your guns - not in this country. I and my husband protect ourselves with appropriate guns also.

Haven't you read about how police are being gunned down by assault weapons now? 50% increase in deaths this year. Read up - it pays to be informed.

 

[Marthatex]

Hi,

Thanks for thinking of me. All in the family are ok. Since they have not released the names of the 9 victims, I don't know if they could be friends. Odds are against it as this is a big city.

On the news, they just said that police only have a partial list of the deceased. Why, I don't know.

There will be so much fallout from this, not only from the victim families, other shoppers and employees, and anyone who knew Hawkins, but the tremendous guilt that must be felt by the person who fired him from McDonald's this morning, and the family who tried to help him, etc.

May God give strength to all involved.

I'm thinking about you and your friends. I know the feeling of have one killed like that.....

 

[Gina_M]

Hi,

Thanks for thinking of me. All in the family are ok. Since they have not released the names of the 9 victims, I don't know if they could be friends. Odds are against it as this is a big city.

On the news, they just said that police only have a partial list of the deceased. Why, I don't know.

There will be so much fallout from this, not only from the victim families, other shoppers and employees, and anyone who knew Hawkins, but the tremendous guilt that must be felt by the person who fired him from McDonald's this morning, and the family who tried to help him, etc.

May God give strength to all involved.

Kelly, I thought of you as soon as I saw this. Glad you're okay :blowkiss:

Prayers to everyone involved in this.

 

[Dark Knight]

You're WRONG. Assault weapons were banned for awhile, and the ban expired. These types of guns used to be only for the military. Weaponry and need for weaponry changes with the times, and the advancement of types of weapons. There are some weapons disturbed people don't need to be toting around.

Assault weapons kill many people, really, realy fast. YOU know what they are; you know the Constitution did not intend people to protect themselves with this type of weapon. It has nothing to with a Const. amendment; Congress banned assault weapons. Guilliani got rid of excess guns in NY. It's up to the discretion of the states and the voters.

That's like saying it's OK for me to have a small nuclear bomb and throw it out my door to protect my house. It destroys many people quickly.

Don't worry; as a victim of Charles Whitman, I know all about mass shootings. This is an inappropriate time to get into a "gun rights" discussion - we don't even know who has lived or died.

Don't worry, no one will take away your guns - not in this country. I and my husband protect ourselves with appropriate guns also.

Haven't you read about how police are being gunned down by assault weapons now? 50% increase in deaths this year. Read up - it pays to be informed.

The assault weapon ban didn't stop Columbine. In a country the size of America, you cannot keep any weapons off of the black market and out of bad guy's hands. And the loopholes in the ban were ludicrous and easy to get around. How so? Give me the exact definition of an "assault rifle."

 

[Kelly]

Thanks all.

It looks like we won't know the victim's names today. LE said 5 females and 3 males, some employees and some customers. When asked if any were children, LE refused to answer.