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Ten die in Alabama shooting spree Ten die in Alabama shooting spree
(about 1 hour later)
A gunman has killed at least nine people in a series of shootings across two towns in the southern US state of Alabama before killing himself.A gunman has killed at least nine people in a series of shootings across two towns in the southern US state of Alabama before killing himself.
Officials say there were at least four separate shooting incidents.Officials say there were at least four separate shooting incidents.
The gunman fired on homes, a petrol station, shops and vehicles in Samson and Geneva near the Florida border.The gunman fired on homes, a petrol station, shops and vehicles in Samson and Geneva near the Florida border.
Five people - including a child - were killed in one home. Several of the victims are believed to have been members of the gunman's family.Five people - including a child - were killed in one home. Several of the victims are believed to have been members of the gunman's family.
The body of his mother was reported to have been found at her home, which was burned down, the Associated Press agency quotes local coroner Robert Preachers as saying. The gunman has not been formally identified.
It is not clear whether she was shot. The bloodshed began when the suspect is thought to have burned down a house where he lived with his mother near Samson, local coroner Robert Preachers told the Associated Press news agency.
The coroner added that it was believed the suspect had killed his grandparents, aunt and uncle in Samson. Officials said they had not been able to get inside the house to determine a cause of death and determine whether the woman was the 10th victim of the killing spree.
The gunman fired shots at other targets in the town.
"He just cruised his automobile through Samson and was spraying the people with semi-automatic weapons [fire] at random," the Reverend Mike Shirah, of Geneva's Maple Baptist Church, told the BBC.
ShockShock
The coroner said it was believed the suspect then headed to Samson where he shot and killed five people - four adults and a child - in one home.
"He started in his mother's house. Then he went to Samson and he killed his granny and granddaddy and aunt and uncle. He cleaned his family out," Mr Preachers said.
Police are investigating shootings in four different locationsThe gunman then killed one person each in two other homes, before killing someone at a Samson supply store, and another person at a service station.
A police officer told Reuters news agency that two of the dead were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff.
"He just cruised his automobile through Samson and was spraying the people with semi-automatic weapons [fire] at random," the Reverend Mike Shirah, of Geneva's Maple Baptist Church, told the BBC.
Samson Mayor Clay King said the town had opened a crisis centre at a local church.
"I've lived here 44 years and never, never dreamed of this happening," Mr King told AP.
From Samson, the gunman drove 19km (12 miles) east to Geneva. At one point, officers rammed his car and gunfire was exchanged.From Samson, the gunman drove 19km (12 miles) east to Geneva. At one point, officers rammed his car and gunfire was exchanged.
RECENT US SHOOTINGS Dec 2008: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus kills nine people and himself on Christmas Eve in LASept 2008: Six people die in a series of shootings in the north-west of Washington stateJune 2008: A worker at a plastics plant in Kentucky kills five people and wounds one other before killing himselfFeb 2008: Five people die and 18 are wounded after a man opens fire at Northern Illinois UniversityDec 2007: A gunman kills eight people and wounds five at a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska, before killing himselfApr 2007: 32 people and the gunman die at the Virginia Tech campus In quotes: Alabama shootingRECENT US SHOOTINGS Dec 2008: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus kills nine people and himself on Christmas Eve in LASept 2008: Six people die in a series of shootings in the north-west of Washington stateJune 2008: A worker at a plastics plant in Kentucky kills five people and wounds one other before killing himselfFeb 2008: Five people die and 18 are wounded after a man opens fire at Northern Illinois UniversityDec 2007: A gunman kills eight people and wounds five at a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska, before killing himselfApr 2007: 32 people and the gunman die at the Virginia Tech campus In quotes: Alabama shooting
Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsay says he was saved by his bullet-proof vest when the man shot at his patrol with an automatic weapon.Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsay says he was saved by his bullet-proof vest when the man shot at his patrol with an automatic weapon.
"About 11 rounds hit my vehicle," he told the BBC. "Some of the shrapnel from the bullets did enter my shoulder.""About 11 rounds hit my vehicle," he told the BBC. "Some of the shrapnel from the bullets did enter my shoulder."
The suspect fired a total of 30 rounds during the exchange with police, officials say.The suspect fired a total of 30 rounds during the exchange with police, officials say.
The gunman eventually went inside a metal products plant, where he is believed to have once worked, and shot himself. The gunman then went inside a metal products plant where he is believed to have once worked, and shot himself.
A police officer told Reuters news agency that two of the dead were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff.
There is no indication yet of a motive for the killings. The FBI has sent an agent to assist the local sheriff's office.There is no indication yet of a motive for the killings. The FBI has sent an agent to assist the local sheriff's office.
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Florida says the FBI is expecting the death toll to rise.The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Florida says the FBI is expecting the death toll to rise.
Samson has a population of about 2,000 people. Geneva's population is about about 4,400.Samson has a population of about 2,000 people. Geneva's population is about about 4,400.
The towns are in a quiet rural area, our correspondent adds, and the local community are shocked that this incident has happened in a such a place.The towns are in a quiet rural area, our correspondent adds, and the local community are shocked that this incident has happened in a such a place.
Are you in the area? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in the area? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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