Red River Massacre

The Red River Massacre was a shooting incident that took place on Monday, April 8, 2008 at the Red River Shopping Centre in Red River, a suburb of Doubledance, Georgeland. The perpetrators, 24-year-old Rob Katzenbaum and 21 year-old Ian Lee, killed eleven people and wounded thirty. The incident is the worst of its kind in Georgeland's history.

The Massacre
Information regarding the massacre is incomplete as police search for evidence and take witness statements. However, the following information is known and has been verified by police and eyewitnesses: Katzenbaum and Lee opened fire in the food court of the shopping centre at 12:53 PM on April 8, as the lunchtime crowd hit its peak. Lee brandished a shotgun, while Katzenbaum used a hunting rifle. The exact makes and manufacturers of the guns are not yet known - however, both types of weapon are legal in Georgeland with the appropriate permits. At least two, possibly three people were killed in the initial barrage and at least six injured. Following the first shots being fired, the panic-striken shoppers and diners began rushing for the exits as security guards heard the commotion and accessed CCTV cameras to discover the gunmen. As security officials called police, Katzenbaum and Lee shot into two seperate food court shops before moving from the food court into a video arcade, where they shot and killed two people and wounded another two. Following this, the men reloaded their weapons before pursuing the still-escaping crowd into the street outside, where another five or six people were killed. The men then returned inside the building and shot themselves in their heads. Police arrived at 1:02 PM to discover both men dead, though some sources have reported Lee was alive when discovered by police.

Katzenbaum and Lee
The two gunmen were both members of an evangelical church known as the Bretheren of the Gospel, an organisation which encourages its members to "fight for their faith" (quotation from the church's website). The church also teaches that modern society and 'consumerism' is "poisonous for the soul" (ibid). The church has officially denied any of its teachings could have motivated the attack. Both Lee and Katzenbaum were members of two seperate gun clubs in suburban Doubledance. On April 9, police confirmed the two men had held licenses for firearms possession in the past, but did not confirm if they were using legally licensed weapons during the attack. On April 9, some media outlets reported that home videotapes had been found in a car

Reports of searching for a target
A number of eyewitnesses have reported to police and media that the men seemed to be searching for a particular target. According to witness Nancy Eckert, who was seated at the table next to the gunmen before they opened fire, Lee asked "where is he" quite loudly several times just before the attack. Other witnesses have reported one or both men repeatedly yelling "there he is" or some variation, as well as "get him" or "get after him" during the attack. No details have been released on who the suspected target may have been.

Reaction
The national and international reaction to the event has been one of shock and distress - Georgeland is noted for its strict fun-laws and lack of violent incidents. Statements and expressions of condolance have come from many countries and leaders around the world. In Georgeland, Prime Minister Luke Macaulay has expressed his 'deep shock' at the incident and seemed physically shaken when making his statement to the press. Opposition leader Robin Sales has echoed the Prime Minister's sentiments. The President of Georgeland, Charlotte Lang, has made a televised statement expressing her deepest sympathies for the victims families.