Gunman kills 2, self in Calif. Denny’s restaurant

[Roses]

Killer also wounds two in Pismo Beach; police say witness may know motive

The Associated Press
Updated: 8:24 p.m. ET March 15, 2006


PISMO BEACH, Calif. - A gunman opened fire inside a Denny’s restaurant during lunch hour Wednesday, killing two people and wounding two before taking his own life, police said.

As many as 15 people were inside the restaurant at the time, authorities said. Many fled or hid in bathrooms for safety.

“The witnesses described him as coming in with a dazed look on his face, then they said he started shooting,” police Chief Joe Cortez said.

The two wounded were in good condition and expected to be released from a hospital, authorities said. Two of the dead were in their 50s or 60s, while the third was 40 or older.

Cortez said a witness led authorities to believe there could be a motive unrelated to the restaurant or its employees, but he declined to give details.

The man, armed with a semiautomatic handgun and a revolver, began shooting within a few steps of the restaurant’s front door, the chief said. It was unclear how many shots he fired.

Authorities were trying to determine whether the gunman had a history of mental illness or whether there were drugs or alcohol in his system, Cortez said.

The names of the gunman and the victims were not immediately released.

Denny’s said it was cooperating with police.

“We are shocked and saddened by this tragic accident,” the restaurant chain said in a statement. “This appears to be a random act of violence.”

Pismo Beach is in San Luis Obispo County, a 3½-hour drive northwest of Los Angeles.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

© 2006 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11844451/

[Welpe]

This happened about 12 miles south of here. It's weird having something like this happening this close to home. It's too bad that freakin' nut job had to take two people with him.

[TXCharlie]

Reminders of the Luby's Cafeteria massacre in Killeen, Texas back in the mid-90's just south of Dallas, and in a Ft Worth Chruch a few years later just west of us.

Rep. Suzanna Hupp, whose parents were killed before her eyes while begging for their life in that Luby's massacre, then went on to write some of the most liberal Concealed Handgun Laws in the country, so that would never happen again (she had left her gun in the car that day, because it would have been illegal to bring it inside Luby's at the time).

She has been quoted often as saying never again does she want anyone to be put in such a sickening and helpless position.

You think that lady packs heat now? You better believe it - She even helped lift the ban on packing it in State, County & Municipal buildings as long as they don't have a courtroom or jail
.

[MisterK]

Some kid in Reno about an hour from my folks shot two kids at his middle school. This crap is everywhere.

[TXCharlie]

Israel arms & trains highly qualified school teachers, I believe... Hint hint.

Armed teachers woulda come in mighty handy at Columbine.
.

[Prometheus]

This is exactly what I've been saying all along!

Never, ever, EVER eat at Denny's!

[TheeBadOne]

Armed teachers woulda come in mighty handy at Columbine.
.

What good is a weapon............w/o the will to use it?

[TXCharlie]

What good is a weapon............w/o the will to use it?

I bet every school has a few ex-military working there. The SRO's aren't the only ones with the will and training to do what's necessary, although the ex-military may need training to only hit who they're shooting at, and a lot more shoot/don't shoot training than what they got in the military.

I'm sure some, such as the young coaches especially, could breeze thru police academy, so why not run them thru the same academy you're trained in? - The airline pilots are another example of a profession that's done something similar. Well, maybe breeze is not the right word, from what I hear

[TXCharlie]

Another California Denny's shooting today:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...home-headlines

Third Fatal Denny's Shooting This Week
From Associated Press
6:44 AM PST, March 17, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A gunman opened fire early today at a Denny's restaurant, killing one man and seriously wounding another, police said. It was the third fatal shooting at the restaurant chain in Southern California this week.

The 2:45 a.m. shooting happened after a fight between two large groups inside the restaurant, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department.

One victim re-entered the restaurant after being shot and died inside, Martinez said. The other victim was taken to a hospital and was expected to survive.

The gunman was being sought by authorities. The shooting did not appear to be gang-related, Martinez said.

The shooting was the third in a Southern California Denny's in three days. In Pismo Beach on Wednesday, a transient with two guns walked into the restaurant at lunchtime, fatally shot two men and wounded a married couple before committing suicide.

And in Ontario, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot in a Denny's parking lot Thursday after a fight. The gunman was still being sought.

[Prometheus]

This is exactly what I've been saying all along!

Never, ever, EVER eat at Denny's!

Nobody listens.

[Ducky]

This is exactly what I've been saying all along!

Never, ever, EVER eat at Denny's!

That's exactly what I told my mother before she left on her trip today.

[TXCharlie]

But But... They have this really cheap "Home Run" Breakfast

[Ducky]

But But... They have this really cheap "Home Run" Breakfast

Dessert's a killer though.

[Prometheus]

But But... They have this really cheap "Home Run" Breakfast

Don't hide it TX - we all know you go for the "Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity" breakfast.

[TXCharlie]

Maybe I was thinking about the Deluxe Grand Slam Breakfast - That's when the patrons shoot +P+ in their Jennings, so the slide breaks aloose and slams against their forehead.