Westroads Mall Shooting

[DesignFox]

My heart goes out to you guys in that area. I hope all your friends and relatives are safe.

There was a similar shooting in a mall near me a few months back...thankfully it was no where near as bloody. The gunman killed himself, injured his target, but thankfully didn't kill anyone else. No one I knew was in the mall at the time...

Very scary when it's in your backyard, though.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I was watching the news coverage this afternoon and then I laid down for a nap. When I stopped watching they were only reporting the 5 wounded.

And now there's nine people dead they didn't report when I stopped watching.

This weekend I'm going down to Mayfair Mall in Milwaukee to finish my Christmas shopping, just because I like that mall. I might be looking over my shoulder a bit more than normal.

[Lil Bunny]

Rine, I understand that big time.

I do have to send a major kudos to the employees at Von Maur though. They had training earlier this year on what to do in violent situations (someone enters with a gun, et al). I guess alot of them snapped to action and could be considered heros for the way that they kept it together and helped people out. They were also the ones to cover the victims to help quell the panic that was going on.

By the way Snaps, you're right. I am praying for the kid now. They put up his photo and it made him "human" if that makes sense. I know, I'm odd but having a name/face took me out of rage mode. I'm still mad at him but seeing him as someone's son/friend/cousin/et al took away a lot of my hatred. Again, I'm still mad, just not so, well you know.

[Rine]

I really feel for the employees of the one store that apparently had a high number of victims. If that happened at my store--heaven forbid--I don't think I could ever go back there and work.

[Lil Bunny]

Everybody, hug some one special to you right now. You never know when you're going to loose them.

Amen to that. Of course we will not get on the fact that I just basically ripped out my DBF and told him he should think before he speaks. I love him but saying we're ignorant for thinking that stuff like that doesn't happen here and those of us who realize that stuff could but it still surprises us are ignorant and need to wake up as well just set me off. Then he says he knew he should have said anything, cue my line and the slamming of a few doors. *hugs beer* Anyone wanna come hang out and watch the updates with me?

Oh, they released the name of the kid. 18 years old. It is a shame.

[SnapAddict218]

I'm a little speachless still. I listened to the radio on the way home and I guess 7 of the bodies were still in the store...they haven't IDd them yet, so we dont know if they were customers or employees...men, women, or God fobid, children. One of the investigators said it was the bloodiest mess he'd ever seen.

Jesus...I had to drive around the mall to get home.......there were rescue vehicles everywhere...and crime scene tape! I've never seen it in real life...something so surreal about this big high end store, decked out with pretty Christmas lights and decorations....and cop cars and crime tape.

Everybody, hug some one special to you right now. You never know when you're going to loose them.

[myswtghst]

Glad to hear you're ok. The survivors and the families of those lost will be in my thoughts tonight. How tragic.

[Lil Bunny]

I'm sure Snap and Jess will agree with me when I say my emotions are on edge right now. We're a good sized city but you know that as small as we are, we're going to either know someone who was there or someone who knows someone who was there. We're all pretty close in degrees of separation.

Oh, and I'm going to hurt my friend. He just texted me with "I was at Westroads shopping for your xmas gift. Then I got shot so yeah, screw you, no gift." I told him that I didn't find it funny and if he texts me with anything like that ever again he can count himself off my friends list.

[morgana]

Snap and Bunny, I'm glad you're both okay (that's what I logged on to find out). I just called my family to make sure none of them were there, and I've got emails into other friends up there. Gods, what a horrific mess . . .

Okay, now that I've checked on people, gonna go cry now. Everybody stay safe, and tell your loved ones how you feel about them.


Morgana

[Rine]

I hope the wounded and the survivors recover. Those poor people. I can't even imagine what is was like. I hope you two, Snap and Bunny, will be all right since this hit close to home. I'm praying for all families involved, even the shooter's.

What the hell is wrong with people? Why did that guy have to go and ruin all those lives? I'll never understand why people do that.

[Lil Bunny]

Oh trust me, I'll be praying for him and his family later. Right now it just makes me so irate due to the irresponsibility of his actions. Did he think he'd be cool? ARGH okies gonna drive home and will talk to you in a bit. I'm taking 75 over to 80.

[SnapAddict218]

I'm grieving for the little fuck stick too though Bunny. He had to be in a world of hurt to do that not only to himself, but to 9 innocents. My heart aches for everyone involved....what a tragedy.

I'm bouts to leave too. I think I'm taking 90th to Pacific....then out to 92....somehow....

[Lil Bunny]

Well I haven't left yet (last minute stuff from the boss...go figure) so I'll be in the thick of it.

I'm about to puke over here. 19 year old texted his ex GF about a half hour before hand saying he was going to do it and go out in "a blaze of glory". The little fuck stick...I hate to think bad of people but I hope he roasts in a special place in hell.

[SnapAddict218]

How was traffic? Yeah, we are all very....somber. 9 people lost their lives today. How easy would it have been for it to have been one of us? These people didn't think today would be their last. All they knew was that they wanted to get some shopping done. How quickly life can leave us. It's a sobering thought when you take the time to think about it. These lives were taken...so unfairly. My heart goes out to these people....how unfair...how fucking unfair!

Bunny, I am going to have a beer as well.

[Lil Bunny]

Just heard that. I know I am not even close by there nor was I involved but I'm kindof in tears here. I hate how they keep saying we're not that kind of city but this shows that it can happen anywhere.

I may have to have a beer tonight.