2 Dead, 5 Injured In Fla. Wendy's Shooting

Cops: Gunman In Jacket And Tie Opens Fire Without Speaking, Killing A Firefighter And Himself

(AP)  A gunman in a jacket and tie wordlessly opened fire inside a Wendy's during the lunchtime rush Monday, killing a firefighter who had gone back to fetch the toy left out of his child's meal and wounding five others. He then committed suicide.

"This was not a robbery. He didn't demand anything," said Paul Miller, a Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman. "Looks like this was just another random shooting like we've seen around the United States."

The 42-year-old victim, a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue lieutenant who was not in uniform, had met his wife and child at the restaurant during a break in training down the street, Deputy Fire-Rescue Chief Steve Delai said. The family had gotten their food and walked out, but the man returned because the free toy was missing from the kids' meal, he said.

The lieutenant was shot in the back as he stood at the counter.

"Our officer probably didn't even see him," Delai said, adding that the man's wife and child were in the parking lot when the shooting broke out.

Three of the survivors were critically wounded, but all had improved and were hospitalized in stable condition Monday evening, Miller said. They included a 43-year-old man, a 16-year-old girl, a 65-year-old man and his 62-year-old wife. One person was injured while running away.

Motorists at the drive-thru window also fled, some leaving their vehicles running. Several people were carried from the restaurant on stretchers. Authorities did not identify the shooter or the other victims.

"I just saw a lady with a little boy in her arms come running out screaming, 'Somebody's shooting!"' said Sandra Jackson, who had been getting gas across the street. The woman said her husband was still inside, said Jackson, 43, of Palm Springs.

The mayhem unfolded just after noon during the lunch hour rush at the eatery on a major suburban road lined with strip malls, car dealerships and fast food restaurants, about five miles from downtown West Palm Beach. A billboard advertising an upcoming gun show stands just behind the Wendy's.

The shooter entered the restaurant and went to a restroom before coming out brandishing what appeared to be a 9 mm handgun, Miller said. About 10 to 15 people were believed to be in the restaurant at the time, he said.

Ashley Milton, 28, said she had just opened the door to get lunch when she heard the "pop pop" of gunfire and saw people running.

"I really didn't think that's what it was. I thought this can't be happening," she said. "You see your life flash before your eyes."

Josh Maynard, 30, said he and his 20-year-old brother Jerry hit the floor when the well-dressed gunman opened fire. Jerry Maynard said the shooter held his gun sideways and said nothing.

The gunman went to the counter, Miller said, shooting a customer before slowly turning to his left and firing on others before shooting himself.

One customer kicked the pistol away from the gunman after he'd shot himself, then started first aid on the wounded, Miller said.

When the shooting stopped, the Maynard brothers ran out of the restaurant. Josh Maynard's blue jeans were torn and his brown leather boots were sliced, damage he said was caused by a bullet that grazed him as he lay on the floor.

"It felt like somebody kicked me in the foot," he said.

Bob Bertini, a Wendy's Inc. spokesman based in Dublin, Ohio, called the shooting "a senseless tragedy."

[gunnerv1]

SchoolLIAR (or whatever it is now)
I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free

[billorights]

For those of who may not have had the opportunity to hear from someone who has earned the right to give his opinion on this subject, may I please refer you to the words of Darrell Scott, the father of two victims of the Columbine tragedy: http://judiciary.house.gov/Legacy/scot0527.pdf

[billorights]

Aw, shucks. ''Tweren''t nothin''!

[gunnerv1]

BilloRights ''and a healthy "Slap on the back" to you too!

[guidosfoot]

Michelle, if you haven''t heard the saying, then why would you post a comment on it? I don''t pity you for your handicap, but your arrogance is pitiful indeed.

[bhappy2-2]

gunnerv1- You can count me in on that. Great writing! Even better Patriotism. And absolutely AWESOME sentiment. Thank You!

[gunnerv1]

SchoolLIAR (or whatever it is now)
I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free Men.

[gunnerv1]

Aw, come on back. I didn''t mean it, please come back. Oh well, guess he pulled up his pants and went home.

[bobnjersey]

[SchoolLIAR, why the name change? Don''''t worry, you''''ll always be good ol'''' "LIAR" to me.]
[Posted by gunnerv1 at 01:19 PM : Mar 05, 2008]

new meds from the clinic.

[gunnerv1]

I see that schoolliar must have went back to its mopbucket.