Emergency.Blog

Victims/Perpetrator Identified in Mall Shooting

13:03 pm EST December 6, 2007

FOLLOW-UP: Omaha Mall Victims Named By Police

Gunman Bragged In Note: 'Now I'll Be Famous'

OMAHA, NE: The victims of a mall shooting range in age from 24 to 66 and were both customers of Von Maur and employees.

Names of the victims were revealed by Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren on Thursday:

They are: Gary Scharf, 48, a customer and resident of Lincoln; John McDonald, 65, a customer and resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Angie Schuster, 36, an employee; Maggie Webb, 24, an employee; Janet Jorgenson, 66, an employee; Diane Trent, 53, an employee; Gary Joy, 56, an employee; and Beverly Flynn, 47, an employee.

Creighton University Medical Center staff said Joy was the first victim who arrived at their trauma center. He was dead on arrival. Flynn had a gunshot wound to chest and minimal life signs, the doctors said, but emergency medical technicians were doing CPR and she was taken to surgery. After 45 minutes, she was pronounced dead.

The wounded: are Fred Wilson, 61, who was upgraded to serious condition Thursday morning, and Michelle Oldham, 65, who is in critical but stable condition.

Jeff Schafford, 34, and Brad Stafford, 55, were both treated and released.

A fifth person hospitalized after the shooting apparently had a medical condition unrelated, and was not identified, Warren said.

The Assailant

Robert A. Hawkins, 19, opened fire at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday. Warren said surveillance video shows Hawkins entering the second level of Von Maur about six minutes before police received the first call for shots fired. Warren speculated that at least 30 rounds were fired from an SKS rifle. Warren said he believes the weapon was stolen from Hawkins' stepfather. Warren said the gun had two 30-round magazines with the ability to fire rounds quickly.

Hawkins apparently left two suicide notes and a will, prompting Warren to call the shootings premeditated. The chief said people may never know why he went on a rampage. Warren said it appears that the victims were chosen randomly. He said it also appears the mall was chosen because it's a large public place where he'd get a lot of attention... -- Source/article continues at: http://www.wnbc.com/news/14786499/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news