Geneva County massacre
Encyclopedia
The Geneva County massacre, which occurred on March 10, 2009, spanned at least two communities, Geneva
and Samson
in Geneva County
, Alabama
, USA, and resulted in the death of 11 people, including the 28 year old gunman, Michael Kenneth McLendon. The victims included members of the McLendon family; he also burned down his mother's house in the town of Kinston
, Alabama
. When law enforcement reached him, McLendon was shot and killed, though it was initially unclear whether the shot was self-inflicted. Later reports said he committed suicide
.
, where he killed his mother and set the house on fire. He went to a relative's home in Samson
where he shot several members of his family as well as a neighbor and her daughter. McLendon left the family member's home, killed a pedestrian alongside the road, then stopped at a local gas station, killing a customer inside. McLendon left the gas station heading along Alabama Highway 52
towards Geneva, Alabama
. He killed another man who was attempting to subdue him. The suspect is also said to have fired at cars on the highway.
Law enforcement officers at one point used the PIT maneuver
on the suspect's car which failed to stop him. He died in a shoot-out in a Geneva metal products plant in which he is said to have previously worked. During the shoot-out, Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsey was shot in the arm. Several people were also injured.
The victims were:
and Geneva
counties, and ended with McLendon's suicide
. Detectives have discovered a hit list in his home targeting several corporations. A letter was also found in which McLendon admitted to killing his mother and that he planned to commit suicide. The letter also mentioned a dispute over a legal issue with his family.
McLendon and his mother Lisa were both members of the Sellersville Assembly of God church located just outside of Samson, Alabama.
were deployed to the streets of Samson where they manned traffic stops and guarded a makeshift morgue. An Army investigation later determined this to be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act
, which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions, and took administrative action against at least one officer.
causing 15 deaths took place in Winnenden
, Germany
. Whether the massacre
in Geneva County was an actuator for this could not be finally determined.
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
and Samson
Samson, Alabama
Samson is a city in Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,071.-Geography:Samson is located at .According to the U.S...
in Geneva County
Geneva County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA, and resulted in the death of 11 people, including the 28 year old gunman, Michael Kenneth McLendon. The victims included members of the McLendon family; he also burned down his mother's house in the town of Kinston
Kinston, Alabama
Kinston is a town in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 602. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Kinston is located at .According to the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. When law enforcement reached him, McLendon was shot and killed, though it was initially unclear whether the shot was self-inflicted. Later reports said he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Timeline of events
The attacks began at McLendon's residence in Kinston, AlabamaKinston, Alabama
Kinston is a town in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 602. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Kinston is located at .According to the U.S...
, where he killed his mother and set the house on fire. He went to a relative's home in Samson
Samson, Alabama
Samson is a city in Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,071.-Geography:Samson is located at .According to the U.S...
where he shot several members of his family as well as a neighbor and her daughter. McLendon left the family member's home, killed a pedestrian alongside the road, then stopped at a local gas station, killing a customer inside. McLendon left the gas station heading along Alabama Highway 52
Alabama State Route 52
State Route 52 is an long route in the southeastern part of the state. The western terminus of the route is at a junction with U.S. Highway 331 at Opp. The eastern terminus of the route is at the Georgia state line east of Columbia...
towards Geneva, Alabama
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
. He killed another man who was attempting to subdue him. The suspect is also said to have fired at cars on the highway.
Law enforcement officers at one point used the PIT maneuver
PIT maneuver
The PIT maneuver is a method by which one car pursuing another can force the pursued vehicle to abruptly turn sideways to the direction of travel, causing the driver to lose control and stop. The backronym "PIT" has a number of different meanings, depending on the agency using it or school...
on the suspect's car which failed to stop him. He died in a shoot-out in a Geneva metal products plant in which he is said to have previously worked. During the shoot-out, Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsey was shot in the arm. Several people were also injured.
Victims
The ages of the victims ranged from 18 months to 74 years old. Among the victims were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff, along with the suspect's own mother, grandmother, uncle, niece and 2 cousins. According to a local police officer:The victims were:
|
|
Perpetrator
Michael Kenneth McLendon (September 19, 1980 - March 10, 2009), killed at least 11 people, including himself, during the shooting; he shot other family members and strangers, and shot and killed his mother and burned her house. The killings took place in CoffeeCoffee County, Alabama
Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise....
and Geneva
Geneva County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties, and ended with McLendon's suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Detectives have discovered a hit list in his home targeting several corporations. A letter was also found in which McLendon admitted to killing his mother and that he planned to commit suicide. The letter also mentioned a dispute over a legal issue with his family.
McLendon and his mother Lisa were both members of the Sellersville Assembly of God church located just outside of Samson, Alabama.
Federal troops
In response to a request for assistance from the Geneva County Sheriff's Office and Samson Police, troops from nearby Fort RuckerFort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
were deployed to the streets of Samson where they manned traffic stops and guarded a makeshift morgue. An Army investigation later determined this to be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act
Posse Comitatus Act
The Posse Comitatus Act is an often misunderstood and misquoted United States federal law passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction. Its intent was to limit the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies from using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of...
, which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions, and took administrative action against at least one officer.
Reactions
One day later a school shootingWinnenden school shooting
The Winnenden school shooting occurred on the morning of 11 March 2009 at a secondary school in Winnenden, Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany, followed by a shootout at a car dealership in nearby Wendlingen. The shooting spree resulted in 16 deaths, including the suicide of the perpetrator,...
causing 15 deaths took place in Winnenden
Winnenden
Winnenden is a small town in the Rems-Murr district of the Stuttgart Region in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. It lies in a wine-growing area approx. northeast of Stuttgart and has a population of less than 28,000...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Whether the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
in Geneva County was an actuator for this could not be finally determined.