What Made Michael McClendon Shoot His Family (and Parts of GenevaCounty)?

Michael McClendon went on a shooting spree in Geneva County, Alabama yesterday, claiming eleven lives- including his own when he turned the pistol he used to kill the others himself. He was armed with a .38 caliber handgun, an SKS and a Bushmaster taped together in this rampage. Some of the victims were family members- his mother Lisa, whose body was found in the house Mike apparently burned down; uncle Alfred White, who was the city shop supervisor of the city of Samson; White's daughter Tracy, and Dean Wise, who was a student at Samson High. A life taken at only 15. And Mike's grandmother, Virginia White.

Also a sheriff's deputy's wife and his infant daughter were shot, just as the deputy, Josh Myers, was in pursuit and shootout with Mike McClendon. Andrea Myers and 18 month old baby Corinne are dead, the other infant daughter of Deputy Myers, 4 month old Ella Myers, is in Pensacola, Florida hospital. Three innocent bystanders were killed as well. In the end, nine people were dead, and six injured, before Mike McClendon went into the Relaible Products plant in nearby Geneva, and shot himself to death.

Many questions burn in the mind of Alabama law enforcement, and that of the Geneva county residents as well. Anong these questions:

Why did Michael shoot his relatives? Was he going through stress? Was his job at Kelley Foods on the chopping block? Did he even get along with his fellow employees?

Did Mike and his mother Lisa get into an argument, one that obviously went out of control? Right now, I'm under the impression that there was family issues that simmered, but I could be wrong about this. That said, the calm of rural Alabama was shattered on Tuesday- possibly never to return again.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.