Frantic 911 Calls Shed Light on Fear & Chaos During Tragic IHOP Shooting
- Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:37pm by
Billy Hallowell
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CARSON CITY, Nev. (The Blaze/AP) – Emergency 911 calls placed just after gunman Eduardo Sencion began a murderous rampage that left three Nevada National Guard members dead (and two others, including the shooter) expose fear and chaos that unfolded on Tuesday morning. For more on the entire incident, watch the ABC News report below:
Callers described victims gunned down inside the Carson City restaurant, as authorities attempted to determine how many perpetrators were involved in the crime on tapes released Wednesday.
The Nevada Appeal reports that about a dozen phone calls streamed into the Carson City Sherrif’s Dispatch center in just two minutes following the shootings. The first call came from Ralph Swagler, the owner of the Locals BBQ restaurant. He said:
“It’s IHOP, there’s a shooting going on. Multiple shooting. Automatic weapons. IHOP, get there right now.”
When he saw Sencion turn his attention to Locals, he became more frantic, saying:
“Now he’s coming back out with the gun! He’s shooting people in the parking lot. He’s shooting at us now! He’s shooting everybody!”
A female caller instructed the dispatcher to bring “several” ambulances and said: “There’s a guy shooting everyone!” Below, listen to the 911 calls:
In addition to killing five, Tuesday’s attack by lone gunman Sencion, aka Eduardo Perez Gonzalez, left seven injured. Officials released the victims’ names Wednesday as the search for a motive – and a time of grieving – continued.
“This is unquestionably the most devastating attack in Carson City’s history,” Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said. “Yesterday our town was shocked to the core.”
The dead included three Nevada National Guard members – the same number of Nevada Guardsmen who have died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were Sgt. 1st Class Christian Riege, 38, of Carson City; Major Heath Kelly, 35, of Reno; and Sgt. 1st Class Miranda McElhiney, 31, of Reno.
Also killed was Florence Donovan-Gunderson, 67, of South Lake Tahoe. Donovan-Gunderson was married to a retired U.S. Marine Corp member.
At a news conference Wednesday, Brig. Gen. William R. Burks described the slain National Guard members as dedicated and active in their fields.
He said Kelly was a decorated officer and avid student of military history who was known for his dry sense of humor.
Kelly was married with two kids, and served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. He was deployed while on active duty with the Army, not as a member of the Nevada National Guard.
Kelly was a field artillery officer in the Army for seven years before joining the Guard about six years ago, according to the Nevada National Guard’s quarterly magazine, Battle Born. The magazine said Kelly led about 140 soldiers at the Nevada National Guard’s joint force headquarters in Carson City after being promoted to commander in August 2009.
Burks said Riege was a fitness buff and father of three who had also been in the Navy. Riege’s military occupation was armor crewman, and he served in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
McElhiney was an administrative sergeant who had been in the Guard for 13 years. She served soldiers in the medical, dental and human resources fields.
McElhiney also had a side business making cakes and cupcakes and would always bring goodies when people got a promotion, officials said.
Burks said Guardsmen overseas are grieving the service members’ loss, and were being told to maintain focus.
Gunman Eduardo Sencion
The rampage started just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, when Sencion stepped onto the pancake house parking lot from his blue minivan with a yellow “Support Our Troops” sticker on it.
He immediately shot a woman near a motorcycle before charging into the chain restaurant. Witnesses said he had unloaded a magazine when he was still less than 12 feet from his vehicle.
Inside the IHOP, Sencion marched toward a table of uniformed National Guard members before shooting each one, and fatally wounding three of them, authorities said.
On the 911 tapes, callers describe seeing a man wearing a red shirt and black pants. Many are crying as dispatchers frantically try to gather information on where the shooter went.
“In the IHOP! In the IHOP!” one caller yells. “Now he’s coming back out with a gun shooting people in the parking lot!”
Seven people were wounded in the attack. Their names have not been released, but Furlong said Wednesday their injuries range from severe to extremely life-threatening.
“Our hearts ache for all the victims of this senseless act of violence,” IHOP Restaurants President Jean Birch wrote on Facebook after coming to town in the aftermath of the breakfast-time massacre. “The people of Carson City have also shown incredible support for the victims and IHOP’s team members.”
The shooting happened roughly two miles from the state Capitol. Lawmakers, business owners and law enforcement officials in this close-knit, government-driven city of 50,000 struggled to understand what drove Sencion to turn an AK-47 assault rifle on his hometown.
“It’s unprecedented in Carson City history,” said Guy Rocha, retired Nevada state archivist. “People who live in Carson City have come from other places to get away from the large urban madness. … It finally came to Carson City.
Furlong said Wednesday authorities were still trying to determine a motive and it remained unclear whether Sencion was targeting people in the military. Mark Furhman, a well-known former homicide detective, believes that the military were, indeed, targeted:
Family members told investigators that Sencion, 32, was mentally troubled, but he did not have a criminal history. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital hours after the mass shooting.
Officials were analyzing the assault rifle to determine if it was automatic or semi-automatic. Sencion left two more guns in the van – another rifle and a pistol, authorities said. Furlong said law enforcement agencies are investigating how Sencion got the guns.
Sencion was born in Mexico and had a valid U.S. passport. He worked at his family’s business in South Lake Tahoe and had no known affiliations with anyone inside the restaurant, Furlong said. He was not in the military.
Sencion filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009, listing more than $42,000 in outstanding debts for a car, several credit cards and some medical expenses. The case was discharged four months later.
A lawyer representing some of Sencion’s family members called the shooting an “aberration of his character.”
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Comments (66)
manster35
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 11:06pmI heard he went to Jerimah Wrights Church and was a member of the AFL-CIO. Is that true. Would explain alot if it was.
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:10pmThank god the POS is dead and that we don’t have to see this argued out by La Raza or the ACLU.
God Bless the victims families of those killed and thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. Whether or not it happened on the field of battle, these people were targeted and paid the ultimate price.
To the douchebags running our Government – fix the damn border put people on notice that the free lunch in America and from America is over.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:59pmIf this illegal Mexican IHOP shooter was was a Mexican citizen targeting USA soldiers out of REVENGE because of Fast and Furious killing Mexicans, Obama’s presidency is OVER!!!
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:04pm8 Questions the LSM and Fox have IGNORED or NOT reported on
1 Eduardo Sencion, aka Eduardo Perez Gonzalez was an ILLEGAL ALIEN. Why isn’t this being reported in the news?
2 Why was the Nevada IHOP shooter using TWO NAMES? Eduardo Sencion & Eduardo Perez Gonzalez
3 Were any of the weapons from Obama’s FAST and FURIOUS PROGRAM?
4 Was this Mexican citizen out for REVENGE because Obama’s Fast & Furious Program killed Mexicans so this shooter TARGETED National Guardsman? (Shooter DELIBERATELY walked past IHOP patrons until he arrived at the back of the IHOP where 5 National Guardman were sitting together before shooting (Did shoot someone in parking lot who saw his gun to shut her up and after shooting soldiers started shooting his way outside before shooting himself)
Report Post »sierramom3
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:55amI agree, probably illegal. And collecting $900+ dollars a month in Social Security/Disability and filing for bankruptcy.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:37am7 Why is Sencion/Gonzalez NOT identified as illegal HISPANIC in his late 30’s who KILLED National Guardsman WHEN a NAVY MEDIC under suspicion of a high school bomb threat is identified as “Morgan, a white male allegedly in his twenties & a NAVY active duty member”? Looks like the LSM is pushing Big Sis Napalitano agenda of VETS AS TERRORISTS while letting ILLEGALS off .
Report Post »http://www.theblaze.com/stories/awol-navy-medic-prime-suspect-in-high-school-bomb-threat/
PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:38am8 If shooter was illegal – WILL ICE check his family immigration status & if ILLEGAL – DEPORT THEIR behinds back to Mexico & sell everything they own to pay the US taxpayers the cost of transporting them back?
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 7:45am6 How did an ILLEGAL alien get automatic rifles and other guns?
Report Post »conservativeKen1971
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 9:56am“Sencion was born in Mexico and had a valid U.S. passport.” If this is true then he wasn’t an illegal alien.
Report Post »LANE131
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:45pmSencion’s Family business??? Well what is that? does anyone know?
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:58pmfamily business in South Lake Tahoe . I cannot find what type of business.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Motive_unclear_in_Nevada_IHOP_rampage.html
Report Post »sierramom3
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:51amI’m local and also want to know. Keep looking and repost if you find out.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 7:48amThe Family Business is the
Mi Pueblo market in South Lake Tahoe
http://www.laketahoenews.net/2011/09/s-tahoe-police-say-carson-city-shooter-had-history-of-mental-issues/
Report Post »MountainScout
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:08pmIt takes 5 seconds to pop the top off an AK and see if it has a fully auto trigger group. No brainer there but where is the info ? Nevada actually allows loaded open carry but look at how politically unacceptable that is these days. You might scare somebody or worse yet, make them feel bad about themselves and we can’t have that. Please folks, if you carry, stay alert, be prepared. That doesn’t mean paranoid, just prepared. Take cover and wait for your opportunity…
Report Post »lakwttwuy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:08pmIt is very striking, how much better the male callers were at communicating under stress, than were the female callers. It isn’t just me who noticed this, surely.
Report Post »Ballot_Box_Revolution
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:41pmThis really is a sad story..my feelings go out to those that were hurt/killed….
but i do have something else to say….
HAHAHHAA the 911 call operator…(at least the first one…not done yet) gives the feeling of a fast food cashier….”Wait wait…i don’t have a button for that“ or ”don’t tell me more yet, i have to hit the buttons first”
Yeah I don’t have much faith in the emergency crews getting anywhere in time to protect anything…but they are important for after the sh it goes down.
Report Post »BeckJunkii
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:59pmToo bad there wasn’t a properly licensed concealed carry permit holder in that IHOP. Could have saved lives…not including the perp. Don’t leave home without it…and I’m not talking AMEX
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:27pmThere was one, but he said he was too out gunned to get a shot off.
Report Post »If our boys are targets I say we let them carry their weapons with them all the time. Just as Israel does.
TomFerrari
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:24pmAgree w/ Beckjunkii…
Outgunned? Even when this murderer turned his back and began leaving?
Report Post »hmmm… I’m not convinced of that one.
.
barbiegirl ny
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:46pmAt least this sick son of a b**** took himself out in the end. Imagine having to house, feed and give him all the amenities that only this country would offer in our prison system. And let’s not forget all that coveted medical care. Unfortunately, the favor he did for society came only after he ruined a lot of lives.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:49pmReally, that should worry us a little. I have worked beside Mexicans all my professional life, and I have never met one that had Jahadist thoughts. Mexicans don’t commit suicide to make a point. What was different with this one? A mexican suicide attack????
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:34pmDONATE TO ARIZONA BUILD A BORDER FENCE.
http://www.buildtheborderfence.com/azborder/info.xhtml
Give even just $5 to help Arizona state build their own fence.
The person who runs this Victims of Illegal Aliens website can add all the Nevada IHOP to his list.
Report Post »http://www.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
macpappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:45pmP.T. Barnum said: “A sucker is born everyday” Donate to a border fence, and make some con man rich.
Report Post »Leevamark2
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:34pmIs it just me, or was that 911 operator completely incompetent!? WTH?
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:04pmListen to the emergency calls and you will quickly realize that in a real emergency YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN.
No police or fire or 911 operator can do anything for you or your family while the incident is happening. Be prepared.
Report Post »WeeDontNeedNoSteenkingBadges
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:28pm“Shed Light on Fear & Chaos”?
TheBlaze must think it’s readers are … British?
“I say, Smedley. Was the a bullet speeding by?”
Report Post »“Quite. It’s gone through me, too.”
“Bad luck, old boy. Pass the crumpets.”
noah2854
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:04pmwhat most of the people in america don‘t understand is that in mexico’s school system they teach the kids how to hate american people because supposedly american people stole texas ,arizona ,colorado and california from them which is a big lie ,those land were sold under the guadalupe hidalgo treaty ,but mexicans use that excuse ,they indoctrinate thir kids about that ,its about time people start doing reasearch again and is about time american peple stand up against this mexican invasion ,Enforce the laws in the books and deport all this illegals aliens .STOP the multiculturalism .
Report Post »woodmantech
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:03pmThere should have been some legally armed citizens in that IHOP to take that nut job out…
Report Post »DallyWama
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:53pmAnother illegal alien killing Americans. Only this time the alien killed our most valued members of society.
All of these skirmishes throughout the country are part of a bigger plot that will transpire on election night. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Report Post »noah2854
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:00amRight on !
Report Post »yosemitefan
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:48pmIf a concealed weapon carrier was on scene would not have had a chance against a nutjob with a semi automatic rifle similar to “bringing a knife to a gunfight” If someone were able to shoot him from behind maybe it could have worked. A restaurant next to IHOP owner had a pistol but was too far away to get clean shot and would have been an easy target. Now if some one had their deer rifle…no problemo!
We will find this guy had his “machismo” or felt “disrespected” by someone or something.
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:08pmThe thing is, how would he have reacted to bullets flying at him?
It’s easy to shoot and kill so many people when no one is shooting back at you. I can drive nails with AR15 at the range, does that mean I’ll go 1 shot 1 kill to anyone against me and my AR when the target shoots back? Hell no.
A conceal carrier could have leveled the playing field.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:39pmI have to agree, as one that has actually been in a running gun fight, when the lead is flying, it takes trainning to stick your head up and sight a target, pull the trigger, and re-take cover. As one armed wittness said “you can’t imagine the amount of bullits coming from the shooters weapon” The man had a pistol but could not get a shot off he said.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:46pm“Sencion was born in Mexico and had a valid U.S. passport.”
__________
No where does it say he was LEGALLY IN THE USA!!
2 Questions
1. Was Eduardo Sencion, aka Eduardo Perez Gonzalez an ILLEGAL ALIEN?
2. Why was the Nevada IHOP shooter using TWO NAMES?
3. If he was illegal – WILL ICE check his family immigration status and if ILLEGAL – DEPORT THEIR behinds back to Mexico and sell everything they own to pay the US taxpayers the cost of transporting them back?.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:53pmI bet this Illegal Mexican who DELIBERATELY walked past the other patrons until he reached the back of the IHOP where the soldiers were ………..(reported by Fox yesterday)
KILLED those in uniform BECAUSE of Fast and Furious guns KILLED Mexicans. This guy was out for USA revenge.
If so, and the LSM and Fox News (which can be WEAK at times) reports both that he was an ILLEGAL and that this was a Mexican citizen targeting USA soldiers because of Fast and Furious, Obama’s presidency is OVER!!!
Report Post »noah2854
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:57pmRight .
Report Post »twistedkittn
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:43pmwouldn’t it be ironic if the gun was a Fast and Furious gun ?
Report Post »blownaway
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 4:15am@twistedkittn
Report Post »That’s exactly what I was thinking.
Condolences and prayers for those that lost loved ones in this senseless act of cowardice…
lewisk333
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:23pmWonder how this call would have sounded if more citizens carried a weapon to protect themselves?
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:20pmHoffa on charges of inciting to violence and complicity to murder.
Report Post »Holder on obstruction of justice and complicity to murder.
Obama on crimes against humanity.
The Washington Three. Progressivegate.
Puddle Duck
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:15pmYet another leftist whack job strikes……….I wonder how many in the MSM will bother to report this low life’s actual motivation behind this senseless atrocity ? I am appalled to say the least to see more service members paying the ultimate price for …..well, nothing. They should be honored with full respects. Obama is silent…says it all IMO.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:03pmNot a whack job.
I BET the below scenario is what the LSM and the Obama Administration are DESPERATELY trying to COVER UP.
___
A Mexican National getting REVENGE on the USA.
An illegal alien born in Mexico using TWO names to hide in this country Eduardo Sencion, aka Eduardo Perez Gonzalez who got REVENGE on the USA by targeting the IHOP soldiers (he walked PAST the other IHOP patrons to the back of IHOP where the soldiers in uniform were sitting before shooting because the USA under FAST AND FURIOUS PROGRAM gave guns to cartel to KILL MEXICANS.
(other than the person by motorcycle outside who saw his gun and was shot to shut her up)
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:26pmWow…not doubting your info but if all of that is true…heads must role at DOJ (Holder must resign) and the White House ( if Obama knew about this op and did nothing he must be impeached ASAP).
Report Post »sierramom3
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 2:43amMSM says he had no prior criminal record but take a look at the photo – sure looks like a mugshot.
Report Post »Eva Goldberg
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:11pmThis is tragic, however whatever happened to citizens defending themselves with their second amendment rights? If only one or two, should be all, law-abiding citizens had his or her concealed carry pistol this could have been resolved rather quickly! Now, if several people just inside the IHOP had pulled and leveled their weapon on the invading murderer he would have been made dead within seconds of entering the building. He would be with God and the innocent patrons would be enjoying their daily meal. I am certain with ice cream as dessert as the invader was gurneyed off to the local morgue. Case closed!
Report Post »lewisk333
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:45pmThe problem is the “Law-abiding” citizens would have probably had to leave their weapons securely locked in the car.
Report Post »BTW: this guy is no where near God right now…he’s where he belongs for eternity.
American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:12pmNo in nevada they don’t. Nevada is a gold star carry state according to opencarry.org
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:51pmHardly anyone’s ready for the rapture…
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:44pmHardly anyone believes in the rapture. With every day that passes we as a people are inlightened a littlel more, and most of us have given up on fairy tales long ago.
Report Post »Texas woman56
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:49pmI just read that the type of gun used is the same type that the gov. let walk into Mexico in fast and furious. How long will it take for the gov. to trace the gun and see it it is on the list? I think we will find out because law enforcement were killed and the lower levels of law enforcement are really tired of this cover up that is putting all of them at risk.
Report Post »Leevamark2
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:37pmTexasWoman- It’d be cool if you could site a source for your info. You read this WHERE?
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:48pmI hope these weapons are not some of those missing Fast and Furious guns! They better trace them and found out how this guy got an AK47 and other weapons. What a shame.
Report Post »CONSERVATIVE SUMMER
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:08pmWith a U.S. Passport, a driver’s license and no criminal record, its pretty easy to buy firearms.
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:16pmWe SELL firearms to People with Passport’s, WTH ????
This is NOT right !!!
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:39pmCon Summer…there is no legal gun outlet/store in the USA that I know of that is authorized to sell full auto assault rifles, semi auto only if I remember correctly.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:39pmWell he was told to “TAKE THEM OUT”…. and he did. Shame on the liberals for inciting this kind of violence!
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:46pmBy Olbermann, Hoffa, Maxine Waters, etc etc
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:59pmSencion filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009. He no doubt lost everything after the November 2008 election. He was a victim of Obamanomics.
Report Post »P4cooler
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:47pmCorrect! Why isn’t Obama scolding Hoffa? Because it is Obama approved rhetoric. Civility for thee, but not for me. The liberal left are a disease to our country.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:42amWhen seconds matter, the police are only minutes away. Be armed.
Report Post »