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Ten die in Alabama shooting spree Eleven die in Alabama shootings
(about 6 hours 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. Police are investigating why a gunman killed 10 people in a series of shootings in the southern US state of Alabama before killing himself.
Officials say there were at least four separate shooting incidents. The gunman burned down his own house, before firing on homes, shops and vehicles in the towns of 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. Several of the victims are believed to have been members of the gunman's extended 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 wife and daughter of a local police officer were also killed.
The gunman has not been formally identified, but was named in the local press as Michael McLendon. The gunman has not been formally identified, but was named by local officials as Michael McLendon.
The bloodshed began when the suspect is thought to have burned down a house where he lived with his mother in Kinston, near Samson, local coroner Robert Preachers told the Associated Press news agency. The bloodshed began when the suspect, said to be in his late 20s, burned down a house where he lived with his mother in Kinston, near 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 suspect placed his mother on a couch and set her on fire, said Coffee County Sheriff Dave Sutton.
He also shot four dogs at the house, the sheriff said.
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. The suspect then headed to a house in Samson where he shot and killed three relatives as well as the wife and daughter of Josh Myers, a local sheriff's deputy, officials said.
"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. Deputy Myers's other daughter was injured in the incident and was set to undergo treatment in a local hospital for a wound to the leg caused by a bullet or shrapnel.
Police are investigating shootings in four different locations The 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. "I cried so much yesterday, I don't have a tear left in me," Reuters quoted Mr Myers as saying.
A police officer told Reuters news agency that two of the dead were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff. "I feel like I should be able to walk in the house and my wife would be there, my baby girl climbing on me."
"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. After leaving his relatives' home, the gunman moved to a neighbouring home, where he shot dead a 74-year-old woman - also a relative, according to officials.
"He cleaned his family out," said Coffee County Coroner Robert Preachers. Police are investigating shootings in four different locations
The gunman then drove around Samson, killing two people at a Samson convenience store, and another man driving a pick-up truck.
"He just cruised his automobile through Samson and was spraying the people with semi-automatic weapons [fire] at random," 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.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."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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7936756.stm">In pictures: Alabama shootings class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7936458.stm">In quotes: Alabama shooting
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 pictures: Alabama shootingsIn 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.
One of the officers involved in the shootout was Deputy Myers, who at the time was unaware that his wife and daughter had already been killed by the gunman.
The gunman then 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.
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.
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 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 such a place. The towns are in a quiet rural area and local people are shocked that the incident has happened there.
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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