Topic: Michael McLendon

The Geneva County massacre, which occurred on March 10, 2009, spanned at least two communities, Geneva and Samson in Geneva County, Alabama, and resulted in the death of 11 people, including the 26 year old gunman, Michael "John" McLendon. The victims included members of the suspect's family; he also burned down his mother's house in the town of Kinston, Alabama. When law enforcement caught up to him, the suspect was shot and killed, though it was initially unclear whether the shot was self-inflicted. Later reports said he committed suicide.

The attacks started at the shooter's residence in Kinston, AL, where he killed his mother and set the house on fire. The shooter then went to a family member's home in Samson where he shot several members of his family as well as a neighbor and her daughter. The shooter left the family member's home, killed a pedestrian alongside the road, then stopped at a local gas station, killing a customer there. The shooter left the gas station heading along HWY 52 towards Geneva, Al. He killed another man who was in the process of trying to stop him. The suspect is also said to have fired at cars on the highway. Law enforcement officers at one point used the PIT maneuver on the suspect's car but failed to stop him. He died in a shoot-out in a Geneva metal products plant in which he is said to have previously worked. During the shoot-out, Geneva police chief Frankie Lindsey was shot in the arm. Several people were also injured.

The ages of the victims ranged from 18 months to 74 years old. Among the victims were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff, along with the suspect's own mother, grandmother, uncle, niece and 2 cousins. According to a local police officer: