Nine Dead In Omaha Mall Shooting

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Posted: 2:27 PM Dec 5, 2007
Last Updated: 3:43 AM Dec 6, 2007

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Omaha's police chief says it lasted "a very few minutes." But when a shooting rampage at a busy mall was over, nine people were dead and five others wounded.

Police say 20-year-old Robert Hawkins was found dead on the third floor of the mall. Witnesses say he was perched on a balcony, picking off victims on the mall's second and third levels.

Chief Thomas Warren says the dead included five females and four
males, one of which was the shooter. Police have recovered the
murder weapon, a rifle.

Hawkins is described as having had a troubled life. He had lived more than a year with a friend's family after being kicked out of his home.

The woman who owns the home where he lived said he had
recently been fired and broken up with his girlfriend.

Debora Maruca-Kovac says Hawkins wrote in a suicide note that he
was "sorry for everything" but also noted that "now I'll be famous."

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Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Dec 7, 2007 at 07:52 AM
with a felony conviction, it would be ileagle for him to purchace or posess a firearm. the NRA does not support felons rights to bear arms. If the law is not enforced, making more laws to restrict law abiding people will not prevent things like this.

Posted by: Sue Warren Location: Wichita on Dec 6, 2007 at 04:07 PM
KAKE News, you will not stop will you.The Boy Is dead. what was between him and his parents is no body business.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 6, 2007 at 03:59 PM
This saddens me that we innocent people in america can't even go shopping in a local mall,having to worry about your own safety.The lady that the young man lived with stated he was like a "lost pound puppy" saw all the RED FLAGS that he was having emotional and mental issues,she could have taken him to get help, there are organizations out there to counsel people with no cost to them or the person carrying for them. I think we all need to take more responsibilty for others that are in your care, regardless of their age. My sympothy goes out to the families of the victims who lost their lives.God bless them all.

Posted by: Sue Warren Location: Wichita on Dec 6, 2007 at 10:32 AM
KAKE news was it something that you had to put down that the Boy on Omaha Mall Had kick him out of the house.you did not say his mother found the note that he had left. I just think you were looking for a good head line

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Wichita on Dec 6, 2007 at 07:59 AM
Even with conceal and carry law. Can't enter malls with it. Just think if someone was allowed to in the mall that day and was close to suspect they could have stopped some of this. maybe. Big maybe. same with Virginia Tect.

Posted by: L Location: Kansas on Dec 5, 2007 at 04:51 PM
To future nutbag gunmen:Why don't you go get some help or counseling? If you can't do that then just kill yourself and stop trying to take innocent people with you. Americans are sick of this type of thing happening. Clearly these type of people are unstable and selfish. I am not sure what the answer is, but I am not for any stricter gun control than is already in place, but I have to wonder if the current gun laws are being enforced to their full extent. Like in the VA Tech situation, a gun was sold to the student when it shouldn't have been due to his previous mental problems. Are we going to find similar red flags were noticed in respect to this gunman, but no one did anything? Generally, these people do alot of other behaviors before they finally resort to a mass killing spree, generally there are warning signs. As a society, we are going to have to stop ignoring our neighbors/co-workers/classmates' odd or angry behaviors and start reporting it to prevent things like this.

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