"Why Do This to Young Girls?" Did Sick Online Diary Foreshadow Health Club Slaughter

By: Neil Katz
Topics: Daily Blotter

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. (CBS/AP) A gunman who fired dozens of shots into a fitness centre exercise class, killing three women and injuring nine before killing himself Tuesday night, may have had an online diary that foreshadowed the twisted killings to come.

Disturbing writings were found on a website attributed to someone named George Sodini, who police now believe is the 48-year-old shooter.

In an entry dated January 6, 2009, the author writes, "I can do this ... God have mercy ... I wish life could be better ... I wish I had answers ... Bye."

Two hours after that entry, he wrote: "I chickened out ... I brought the loaded guns, everything."

Then, this past Sunday, Aug. 2, the man wrote: "Tomorrow is the big day ... Last time I tried this, I chickened out. Let's see how this new approach works out."

Allusions to a shooting begin as far back as November of last year: "Why do this to young girls?" he asks.

He ended by writing, "Death Lives!"

Police are not yet sure who the target of the Aug. 4 shooting was but that the gunman went into the health club planning to shoot several people — firing "multiple" weapons "indiscriminately," according to Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt. The gunman shut off the lights without speaking, then unleashed a burst of bullets.

(AP Photo/Don Wright)

Photo: Police investigate the gruesome shooting at an L.A. Fitness health club Aug. 4, 2009 in Bridgeville, Pa.

"He walked right into the room where the shootings occurred as if he knew exactly where he was going," Moffatt said.

The violence rocked Collier, a bedroom community of about 5,300 residents near Interstate 79, some eight miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh.

After shooting the women Tuesday night the gunman turned the gun on himself.

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