Alleged gunman left suicide note
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The man who allegedly opened fire with a rifle at a busy department store Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life, was recently fired from his job and had broken up with his girlfriend.
The gunman was 20-year-old Robert Hawkins of Bellevue, according to friends and a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.
Shortly after 7 p.m., police used a bomb robot to access a Jeep Cherokee left in the mall parking lot. Authorities believe the vehicle belonged to Hawkins.
Officers had seen some wires under some clothing, but no bomb was found.
A suicide note left by Hawkins said he would not be a burden on his family any more and "now I'll be famous," according to Debora Maruca. She said she owns the home where Hawkins lived after his family kicked him out.
Maruca said Hawkins was fired from his job at a nearby McDonald's this week and had recently broken up with a girlfriend.
Omaha police have not yet confirmed his identity.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said he could confirm that his office found the suicide note allegedly left by the gunman. Davis referred further questions to the Omaha Police Department, which would not confirm whether a note had been found.
Hawkins lived for a little more than a year with Maruca's family in a house in a middle-class Bellevue neighborhood.
Maruca said she found Hawkins' suicide note in his bedroom and called his mother. The mother, whom she did not identify, took the note to authorities.
"When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like lost pound puppy that nobody wanted," Maruca said.
The gunman was 20-year-old Robert Hawkins of Bellevue, according to friends and a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.
Shortly after 7 p.m., police used a bomb robot to access a Jeep Cherokee left in the mall parking lot. Authorities believe the vehicle belonged to Hawkins.
Officers had seen some wires under some clothing, but no bomb was found.
A suicide note left by Hawkins said he would not be a burden on his family any more and "now I'll be famous," according to Debora Maruca. She said she owns the home where Hawkins lived after his family kicked him out.
Maruca said Hawkins was fired from his job at a nearby McDonald's this week and had recently broken up with a girlfriend.
Omaha police have not yet confirmed his identity.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said he could confirm that his office found the suicide note allegedly left by the gunman. Davis referred further questions to the Omaha Police Department, which would not confirm whether a note had been found.
Hawkins lived for a little more than a year with Maruca's family in a house in a middle-class Bellevue neighborhood.
Maruca said she found Hawkins' suicide note in his bedroom and called his mother. The mother, whom she did not identify, took the note to authorities.
"When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like lost pound puppy that nobody wanted," Maruca said.
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heart broken wrote on Dec 6, 2007 11:53 PM: