Gunman warned of rampage: Family
Relatives of a man who fatally shot two people and wounded four others before being killed in a police shootout say he had warned of going on a rampage.
Charles P. Steadman Sponaugle shot and killed his son and nephew and wounded four other relatives Sunday. Authorities say he was involved in a dispute with relatives over the family property in central Virginia.
Sponaugle's sister, Kitty Cooper, was among the wounded.
Cooper says Sponaugle indicated months ago that he planned to kill his son and two other relatives.
And Cooper's husband, Mark A. Cooper Sr., who also was wounded Sunday, said Sponaugle told a relative two days before the shootings that “he was going to kill a bunch of people.”
-- Richmond Times-Dispatch
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Washington Post Editors
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August 25, 2010; 7:49 AM ET
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This is so horrible, but we must begin to look at situations like this seriously. Now if he truely "warned" someone or gave an indication that this may happen something should have been done. All this grief over a small piece of land. To kill you own child is not even animalistic behavior its much more sadistic and hateful. My heart goes out to the family of these victims, all that will suffer for this persons selfish and demonic act.
Posted by: mslovejoye68 | August 25, 2010 8:55 AM | Report abuse
Why? Is the property worth the lives lost in this tragedy? Of course not. People need to realize material things should not be valued over a person's life. This man killed his own relatives; the survivors will carry this horror in their minds and hearts the rest of their lives. They have my condolences.
Posted by: skinfreak | August 25, 2010 9:35 AM | Report abuse
the devil is running rampant because his days are numbered
Posted by: CreamyIce6 | August 25, 2010 3:12 PM | Report abuse
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