George Sodini’s Blog – His Plans Before The Shooting

By stephen on August 5th, 2009

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George Sodini is the man behind yesterday’s tragic shooting at an LA Fitness aerobics class in Bridgeville, PA. The shooting, which involved 52 fired shots from two separate guns, killing three women and injuring twenty more, finally ended when Sodini turned the gun on himself and fired. As the nation looks for a reason to this gruesome affair, few are found satisfying, but there are a few.

As it turns out, George Sodini was an avid blogger, keeping a running diary of his thoughts and plans on his blog – found at www.georgesodini.com. What readers will find is the story of a sad and lonely man who hated women and who held a crippling inability to connect with others, most often the women in his life. This affliction he blames on his domineering mother who, from his recollection, was never kind to him.

Sodini’s blog also tells of his plans for Tuesday’s deadly shooting. In it he makes mention of “chickening out” once before back in January, when he had shown up to the gym with guns loaded, but backed out at the last minute. While all of this was readily available to be read by anyone checking his website, it is unclear how many, if any, readers he actually had.

Currently his blog is down (Service Unavailable), likely due to today’s heavy traffic, however, here’s his entry from Monday, the day before the shooting.

“I took off today, Monday, and tomorrow to practice my routine and make sure it is well polished. I need to work out every detail, there is only one shot. Also I need to be completely immersed into something before I can be successful. I haven’t had a drink since Friday at about 2:30. Total effort needed. Tomorrow is the big day.

Unfortunately I talked to my neighbor today, who is very positive and upbeat. I need to remain focused and absorbed COMPLETELY. Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out. Lets see how this new approach works.

Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.

I will try not to add anymore entries because this computer clicking distracts me.

Also, any of the “Practice Papers” left on my coffee table I used or the notes in my gym bag can be published freely. I will not be embarased, because, well, I will be dead. Some people like to study that stuff. Maybe all this will shed insight on why some people just cannot make things happen in their life, which can potentially benefit others.”

While it is unlikely that future would-be killers will go to the internet to post their plans, this story does bring up a few questions. That is, how easy is it for police officers or other government agencies to monitor this kind of behavior? And also, is this even enough evidence for police to do anything – if they had found the blog? If not enough to sign a warrant, perhaps enough to send in some psychiatric help?

For me, at least, his public writings seemed to very much be a cry out for help. One that, unfortunately, went unanswered.