Gunman in Pittsburgh gym massacre, George Sodini, planned shooting for months

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Gunman in Pittsburgh gym massacre, George Sodini, planned shooting for months, his journal reveals

The madman who fatally shot three women in a fitness center outside Pittsburgh planned the massacre for months and "chickened out" on at least one other attempt, his venom-spewing journal reveals.

George Sodini, 48, walked into a crowded 20-by-20 foot aerobics room at the LA Fitness gym in Collier, Pa., at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. He turned off the lights and fired as many as 50 rounds from at least two guns

without saying a word, police said.

Three women were killed in the barrage and at least 10 others wounded before Sodini turned the gun on himself, police said.

When the massacre ended, Sodini lay dead on top of a gun near one of his victims. Sources told the Pittsburgh Gazette Soldini's girlfriend was among the dead.

For months before the killing spree, Sodini kept a log of his plans, filled with rage and hatred for women.

"Why do this?? To young girls? Just read below," he wrote. "I kept a running log that includes my thoughts and actions, after I saw this project was going to drag on."

The log shows he entered the club with loaded guns on Jan. 6, but backed out.

"It is 8:45PM: I chickened out!" he wrote. "I brought the loaded guns, everything. Hell!"

The journal drips with rage and names relatives and acquaintances. It also shows his frustration at not being able to connect with women.

On Aug. 3 he wrote: "I took off today, Monday, and tomorrow to practice my routine and make sure it is well polished. I need to work out every detail, there is only one shot. Also I need to be completely immersed into something before I can be successful. I haven't had a drink since Friday about 2:30. Total effort needed. Tomorrow is the big day."

In a Web site posted under his name, Sodini wrote rambling messages about his hatred of women and how he was tired of being rejected by them. He ended by writing, "Death Lives!"

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2...months_his.html

Sodini was a member of the gym and lived in Carnegie, just a few miles from the health club, authorities said.

Detectives found a note in his gym bag, which he apparently used to bring two handguns into the facility.

Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt declined to reveal the note's contents.

"He did what he set out to do," Moffatt said. "I don't think anyone could have stopped him, to be honest."

Detectives were working to identify the dead and the wounded, who were being treated at area hospitals.

"As you can imagine, at a fitness club, they don't have their IDs on them, people don't know who they are," Moffatt said. He would not confirm the report that Sodini's ex-girlfriend was one of the women killed.

The wounded were taken to UPMC Mercy, Allegheny General and St. Clair hospitals.

Soldini purchased the guns legally, police said.

Stacey Falk, 26, of Bridgeville, told the Post Gazette newspaper she was in the aerobics room with 30 to 40 other women when a short, clean-shaven man in gym clothes, walked in with a bag.

He stood in a corner near a racquetball court for a moment, put down the bag, turned off the lights and pulled out a gun.

"Girls were just ducking behind each other. All I could hear were shots and screams," Falk said.

The aerobics class instructor, who announced she was pregnant, was shot in the shoulder.

"I saw these women running out of the aerobics room, hysterical," said Ron Michaels, a racketball instructor. "I think I saw three or four injured people being taken to ambulances after I was out in the parking lot," he said.

Many of the survivors credited the the staff of the fitness center staff, which opened just a year ago, with calmly steering people toward the exits.

[almaty 19]

f#3king #######..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't understand why this kind of thing is (at least it appears to be) so prevalent in this country. Why can't people just off themselves - why the need to take other people with them!?

[almaty 19]

their crazy code.....revenge before death

[Nagishkaw 510]

Coward!

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

I don't understand why this kind of thing is (at least it appears to be) so prevalent in this country. Why can't people just off themselves - why the need to take other people with them!?

My sentiments exactly. Violence and guns are celebrated far too much in pop culture. As a result, I think some people are just so desensitized to violence that they forget that there are consequences to such aggressive behavior.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The guy sounds like a George Costanza type - couldn't maintain relationships with women and angry at the world. Just a shame that people like that can get ready access to tools that enable them to act out their depraved fantasies!

[familyguy 2]

It certainly disproves the myth that joining a gym always improves your health.

Edited August 5, 2009 by familyguy

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

f______ savage

[Marina-Del 10]

Eeeks.....crazy story to read after I walk in the door from the gym.

Horrible.

[alienlovechild 75]

Misogynist psycho

I thought he turned off the nights before shooting so were there only women in the gym? In other words, how do know he hated women if he was gunning for his ex-girlfriend and anyone else within range regardless of gender?

[ddartt1 2]

This is very sad, my sincere and heartfelt condolences to family and friends of the victims. (F)

Edited August 5, 2009 by ddartt1

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Misogynist psycho

I thought he turned off the nights before shooting so were there only women in the gym? In other words, how do know he hated women if he was gunning for his ex-girlfriend and anyone else within range regardless of gender?

Probably cause he walked into an aerobics class to do the shooting and left writings stating his hatred of women.

[HAL 9000 96]

Does it freaking matter who he tried killing and succeeded? The guy was a nutjob and that's that.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Does it freaking matter who he tried killing and succeeded? The guy was a nutjob and that's that.