December 05, 2007

Mall Shooting in Omaha UPDATE: 9 DEAD UPDATE: 19 Year old ROBERT A. HAWKINS "Wanted to Go Out in Style"

Robert A. Hawkins, yearbook picture from 2 years ago.

Local media report Suspect ID'd as Robert A. Hawkins of Bellevue, Nebraska. 19 years old.

No victims ID'd yet. Pray for the families.

KETV: Mother found suicidal note, brought it to police station. Shooter was on antidepressants.

Shooter had made violent threats to friends over past week.

Suicide note found on car. "Wanted to go out in style"

Shooter sent text message to ex-girlfriend 20 minutes before shooting saying he was going to, "go out in a blaze of glory."

So, terror theory out. Narcissistic sociopath piece of filth theory in.

UPDATE New press conference by the police. The gun used in the attack has been positively identified as an SKS-style rifle. Media sources say that Hawkins stole it from his stepfather.

UPDATE Local press is reporting a loud boom and that the OPD bomb squad is investigating what may be Hawkins' vehicle. Back window of suspect vehicle was blown out, Police bomb robot is next to vehicle. Update to the update. It was Hawkins' vehicle, but no explosives found. Police were being extra careful.

UPDATE: Police press conference now. 9 DEAD, 5 WOUNDED, 2 in critical condition!!!!. Suspect took his own life (thank God!). Other suspects detained, but only because they fit early description.

All shot in department store, third level, CHILDREN'S FLOOR!!

Best information as of now is that SINGLE SHOOTER WHO IS DEAD.

7 dead on scene, 2 more died at hospitals.

Last week a live grenade was found at mall. Related?

UPDATE: Confirmed: one man, one woman dead. Not clear if man is victim or suspect. Multiple witnesses confirm 20+ shots fired, conflicting accounts as to one or two suspects.

UPDATE: Up to 10 injured, one dead, and suspect was apprehended under bus bench? Still, very sketchy reports.

UPDATE: Two shooters, one maybe dead? ....radio reports second shooter may have taken own life.

Drudge links to a story that a grenade found at same mall last week.

UPDATE: Possibly WAY MORE THAN 5 SHOT and MORE SHOOTERS. Reports still coming in & conflicting reports. Stand by.....police to make statement shortly.

You can listen to 1110 KFAB in Omaha live here.

KETV says five injured. They have a pic of the shooter. Appears to be a young black man in camo. He is said to have been wielding a rifle.

As for the knee-jerk first reaction, a friend in Omaha who's listening to reports live on the radio says it's not Islamic terror.

Probably spot on....but before you rule it out, just remember Lee Boyd Malvo.

Thanks to HA's headline thingy.

Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, Jammie Wearing Fools, and Stop the ACLU, LGF also tracking.

More thoughts at Merri Musings.