George Sodini Kills 5 at LA Fitness Shooting in Pittsburgh

by Amy Judd | August 4, 2009 at 05:02 pm

7278 views | 55 Recommendations | 11 comments

Up to 15 people have been shot at the LA Fitness Gym in Bridgeville Pensylvania, and at least five people have been reported dead, including the shooter, George Sodini.

Witness said that a man, not known to the staff at the gym, entered the gym, turned off the lights in the aerobics room, and just began shooting.

Shortly after 8:15pm local time, authorities received a call that a number of people were involved in a shooting at the gym, located at the Great Southern Shopping Center at 1155 Washington Pike.

Witnesses told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that the victims were taking an latin dance class at the time of the shooting.

It is thought at this time that the shooter committed suicide:

"There were shots fired at the LA Fitness, multiple people were shot and injured," Collier Township Police Chief Tom Devin told the TV station.

"At this time, we don't know who they are," he said. "We believe the shooter committed suicide at the scene but we're not positive."

Medical officers treated about five women who were all shot multiple times and are all were in critical condition. They were taken to hospital, where three were downgraded to serious condition and two are still critical.

A woman in the class at the time of the shooting, identified as Nicole, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that the class had started about 10 minutes before the gunfire.

She said about 30 people -- all women -- were in the class when "a middle-aged white male walked into the class. He had a big gym bag.""He looked out of place in a class full of women," according to the witness, who said the man put his bag down, turned the lights off and opened fire.

Clerks at neighboring stores told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that they locked their doors as a precaution.

Anyone concerned about their friends or family should call county police by dialing 412-473-3000.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:22 on August 4th, 2009

LIVE VIDEO: Special Report -- Gym Shooting.

nicki (not verified)

at 18:23 on August 4th, 2009

11 wounded .

9 rushed to allegheny county hospitals.

5 shot. (including gunman)

Witnesses meeting at nearby Bob Evans.

Not common at all for crimes of this type in the area.

158

at 18:51 on August 4th, 2009

More senseless violence.

J2B (not verified)

at 20:47 on August 4th, 2009

you go into a gym to get fit and come out dead! What sort of country do we live?

Rory Cripps

at 20:24 on August 5th, 2009

Relatively speaking, we live in a country (America) that is subjected to much less violence and whose citizens enjoy a much longer lifespan than at least (and at the very least) 90% of the "countries" throughout the world. That's just the way it is . . . .

t k kidwai

at 20:57 on August 4th, 2009

Voilence is never sensible like politicians.Such incidents,in the first place,should not happen and the reasons for such dastardly acts must be fathomed by those who do research on behavioural patterns of human beings.

Such incidents are not only shocking but speak of mental illness not of the perperator of the crime but of those as well who are responsible for promoting and sustaining culture of voilence not only in US but across the globe.It is:military-industrial complex,greedy corporate houses-who own and run machines of deprivation,hunger,poverty and emotional stresses.

Barry ORegan

at 20:53 on August 4th, 2009

What the hell is this world comin to

Barbara McPherson

at 05:49 on August 5th, 2009

This is extreme example of the rage directed at women world wide. In N. America it usually is a little more subtle.

Kay-Kay (not verified)

at 09:35 on August 5th, 2009

My prayers truly go out to all the women those hurt physically and mentally, and to the families of those who were killed. Daily prayer for everyone: God, please protect my loved ones and me from seen and unseen danger.

Lauryn (not verified)

at 15:21 on August 5th, 2009

May the families and friends of all the victims of this senseless act be comforted by the knowledge that God is with them and their loved ones. God, please be with us always and may your guardian angels surround us and keep us safe from all evil and harm.

Graham Strouse (not verified)

at 18:22 on August 10th, 2009

Crimes like this are almost never senseless. Despicable, yes, but not senseless. They are predictable as to relative frequency & can be deterred, not prevented, but deterred. Instead of heads-in-the-sand, people, make an effort to intimate motive. Dilute the motive & fewer people die. That simple.

There are very few madmen (or women) in this world. Most of them act on a reason. Find the reason & you diffuse the bomb.