Crime

Gunman Opens Fire at Child’s Roller Rink Birthday Party, Kills Self and 5 Others

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) — A gunman opened fire at a child’s birthday celebration at a Texas roller rink, killing five people, wounding four others and then killing himself as the private party turned to panic and some fled screaming in their skates, police and witnesses say.

Authorities ascribed the gunman’s rampage to an apparent domestic dispute and said no young children or rink employees were killed during the shooting that erupted about 7 p.m. at Forum Roller World in Grand Prairie, about 20 miles west of Dallas. Some people at nearby businesses said they watched as adults and children spilled from the rink in horror.

“They just looked terrified,” Cody Poston, a witness, told WFAA-TV, outside the rink that was festooned with birthday decorations. “There’s several people crying. The kids were just kind of oblivious.”

Authorities did not immediately release the victims’ names or ages or say how the gunman may have been related to those who died.

Police said the gunman began arguing with a woman in Forum Roller World’s front area where the party was being held, although the rink was not open to the public because the family had rented it for several hours for the private party.

Grand Prairie police spokesman John Brimmer said investigators were still trying to determine how many people were inside the building when the shots rang out. Police were called about 7:10 p.m. about reports of shots fired and some reports said officers entered with guns drawn, encountering the dead and wounded.

Wounded survivors were taken to hospitals, and their conditions weren’t immediately disclosed. Grief counselors were available for witnesses, victims and family members, Police Chief Steve Dye said.

Dye told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram a domestic disturbance apparently erupted between a husband and wife, but he did not elaborate because the investigation was continuing. The ages of those shot were not released.

“We are still working on identifying the victims, and we are still working on notifying the families,” Dye said. “Certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.”

Derrian Harris, 18, of Grand Prairie said he rushed to the rink Saturday night after hearing about the shootings. He said he usually goes there every Friday night and was worried about whether any of his friends were hurt, but later believed that he didn’t know any of the victims. He said he has never seen so much as a fight at the rink.

“All kinds of people come here to skate, and everybody gets along,” Harris said.

Great Southwest Parkway, a major street in an industrial area in front of the rink, was partially blocked off after the shooting. About a dozen police vehicles with lights flashing and a few fire trucks were parked nearby, with a mobile command station in front of the building. For hours overnight, investigators continued walking in and out of the building and bodies were still inside.

Aaron Feldt told WFAA-TV he was standing across the street at a bowling alley when he heard the shots.

“I saw family coming across the street,” he said, adding he could see the “panic in their eyes.”

Byron Raspberry of Grand Prairie said his children go to the rink frequently because it is near their home.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Raspberry said. “I don’t feel safe at all.”

Comments (56)

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  • MUDFLAPS
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 2:22pm

    this is beginning to sound like a liberal plot to go along with the new ovamit gun laws coming up. Me thinks we are being played like a fiddle.

    Report Post »  
  • 4X4in
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 1:38pm

    So if the nutjob, went to his car and got a ballbat and beat 5 to death would it make the news!

    Nuts will find a way, Arm more lawful people and lets see how that works!

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:34am

    The push to end the 2nd amendment has begun, wonder how many Americans the liberals, posing as conservative whack jobs, will kill before they finish it off?

    Report Post »  
  • imhunderdog
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:07am

    Let’s call it what it is. EVIL!!!!. And EVIL knows no bounds in its depravity. People who do this have given into lewdness, licentiousness, wickedness, in all forms weather it be mass murder, sexual immorality and promiscuity, thievery, envy, avarice, slothfulness. Those of us who say we love justice, freedom and peace are guilty of loving these things so much that we have not been watchful and have allowed the enemy within our gates. Our silence and live and let live attitudes have brought us to this point. Though I agree we need to confront Evil, we must first confess our iniquity and pray the help and protection of God and turn away from Evil. We must not be willing to compromise our principles in an attempt to make life easier. We must turn a deaf ear to Evil’s half truths and embrace the hard facts of Truth if we are to be restored. There are no grey areas with Truth. It simply is. And in the simple Truth we will find peace.

    Report Post »  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:02am

    telepromternchief: thank you, i was worried but now i’ll be happy.

    Report Post »  
  • TRILO
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:38am

    It does not matter what race, religion or political party the individual with the gun was. Shooting and killing people because you are mad at them or do not agree with them is wrong no matter how you spin it. As the article indicated this is a domestic dispute gone bad. This is just another sad situation. Pray for the victims.

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • rightwinger76
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:28am

    Just this weekend we have multiple shootings occur. Car shows, roller rinks, summer camps, this is why I carry locked loaded and hammer back, everywhere I go.

    Report Post » rightwinger76  
  • jessieH
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:17am

    I won’t coment without more facts.

    Report Post »  
  • Jezcruzen
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:04am

    First, I would like to learn what the ethnic and/or racial make-up was of this crowd. Depending on what that was, there might not have been anyone in attendance responsible enough to legally carry concealed.

    Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:05am

      Usually, when the media do not mention the race or ethnicity of a perp, it is not a white guy. If it were, his face would be plastered up for all to see, even the Eskimos would know about it. We will have to see though, this was in Texas. They don’t drink quite as much KoolAid down there.

      Report Post »  
    • EmperorWSA
      Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:40pm

      I have to agree. You think people are gonna run around trying to kill a bunch of people if they think everyone there might be armed??? Get a permit and LEARN HOW TO CARRY PROPERLY. Once that is done, carry EVERYWHERE you can legally do so.

      Report Post »  
  • billybe123
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:31am

    I said it before, will say it again. Don’t take guns away, it don’t work, Allow the arming of all. Something like this would have been stopped sooner. Between the Two ideas, take guns away, or Arm all, I just think allot of these incidents would be stopped or more life’s SAVED if the public was armed. Not Disarmed!

    Report Post » billybe123  
    • Grayzel
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:41am

      In Norway it took the police 90 minutes to arrive at the island. Anders Behring Breivik had 90 minutes to hunt down and murder people. No one on the island had a weapon to defend themselves. Will a lesson be learned? I doubt it. Allow people to defend themselves and others. Gun laws kill people just as the left claims guns kill people.

      Report Post »  
  • exfire
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:29am

    Where’s an armed citizen when you need them. Police arrive as fast as they can and still 5 are dead
    ————————————————————————————————————————————

    Remember, when seconds count…police are mintues away !

    Report Post »  
    • cookcountypatriot
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 3:23pm

      do you honestly think you can count on police to prevent crime…thier whole purpose is to come after the carnage has been done…get yourself educated on concealed carry and carry responsibly…

      Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
  • HanginOn
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:15am

    Be armed or be a statistic like these poor people. Nut jobs can’t kill such large numbers when they are taken out quickly. Think of how fast Mr. Norway killer would have been dropped if there were responsible armed adults around. Liberal policies leave people vulnerable.

    Liberalism: the political doctrine of the stupid.

    Report Post »  
  • Kai Wan
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:55am

    These Norwegian right wingers are over running our country!!! Pos obama secure our borders!!! Stupid pos dbagocrats.

    Report Post » Kai Wan  
  • americanoverpolitics
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:46am

    This wouldn’t happen if existing gun laws were enforced and responsible gun owners carried. If you are a lawful and responsible gun owner, you owe it to your country to get your carry permit. The more of us out carrying and visible, the quicker this madness will stop. If you are uncomfortable wearing a visible holster, get a concealed permit.

    Report Post » americanoverpolitics  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:32am

      I can’t help but laugh at a lot of the folks here saying concealed carry is the answer. It can be a good thing in the right hands but you people are not seeing the forest because the trees are in the way. The core problem is that the US govt is importing low-lifes from 3rd world countries as fast as they can fill up the boats and planes. They have no love for America they are here to pad the Dem prog socialist voting roles. Thats it. Most are sub-human miscreants and are barely civilized at all. And you wonder why we have all this violence. Having everybody pack a heater is a real stupid idea. Some yes, all, hell no. Americans are too stupid for that. Too irresponsible.

      Report Post »  
  • Thelma Lightspeed
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:31am

    I believe our species is losing it’s collective mind.

    Could this decent to madness be caused by over population?

    Report Post »  
  • SlimnRanger
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:12am

    Please Lord Jesus come quickly

    Report Post »  
    • TelepromoterNChief
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:33am

      Obama 2008.

      Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 12:01pm

      I don’t think that this has much to do with any race, ethnic, religion, or political affiliation. Just an unstable person who should not have had a gun. It is true that if there were a legal permitted person carrying a weapon, they might have made a move to stop the shooter. However, having possession of a weapon does not mean that that person has the mind set to use it.
      I would carry cancelled even without my permit, as I refuse to allow my safety to be regulated by such idiots as come and go in Washington. Besides if things keep going the way they are going I expect that most posters on this site will be enemies of the state in one form or the other within a couple of years.
      Of course we could elect Ron Paul and change it all.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • LQQKIN IN
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:54am

    Reading the first comments I have to say we are in pretty bad shape as a nation.
    It always comes back to was he left or right.We are truly a nation divided.
    I don’t think the 5 dead people care if he was left or right nut job.

    Report Post » LQQKIN IN  
  • tranymike
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:49am

    guy with family problems not left or right at less he shot were he was aiming most shootings kill everyone on the street but the one they came to shoot its just sad thank god the kids are ok

    Report Post » tranymike  
  • Hermen Sie Germen
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:48am

    String him up.

    Report Post » Hermen Sie Germen  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:46am

    Please pray for the people killed and their loved ones. It’s a terrible shame that someone would open up on children. God has a special place in hell for them. Not to mention what the kids are going to have to live with the rest of their lives.

    Report Post »  
    • Carol Ingian
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:40am

      I agree. Only a psycho would bring a weapon to a birthday party. I feel very badly for the kids. It is a scary time to be growing up.

      Report Post »  
  • ConservativeChristianB1954
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:34am

    Uh oh, another Conservative Fundamentalist Christian at his EVIL work. I wonder when the left wing media is going to label this nut in this way?

    Report Post » ConservativeChristianB1954  
    • CHILLYWILLY
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:00am

      Where’s an armed citizen when you need them. Police arrive as fast as they can and still 5 are dead.

      Report Post »  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:34am

    The whole damn world is just going crazy right now! Maybe that is why I hear an Emergency Broadcast test 5 times a day, they(the government)must know that civil unrest is imminent, so they are making DOUBLE SURE that their system is in working order! You can almost feel the tension and fear raising in this country during these uncertain times, and a number of people are acting out of that fear and uncertainty violently.

    Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:26am

      and our Leader OBAMA says we will Default if he doesn’t get the debt ceiling raised. now that builds confidence and makes everyone feel better.

      Report Post »  
    • TelepromoterNChief
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:35am

      CLOUDSOFWAR
      Don’t worry.
      The world shall rest for a bit and smile with Barry’s 50th birthday coming up.
      You can enjoy from afar since YOU are paying for it.

      Report Post »  
  • motes_art
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:33am

    This happened in Texas? I cannot believe there was not a legally armed CCW carrier somewhere in the building. Now the crazies on the left will be screaming even louder for more gun control. Texas is a border state… probably got the gun from Mexican drug dealers (sarcasm).

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:40am

      There were most likely several, concealed carry is one of the tools the left is using to go after the 2nd amendment. Concealed guns do no good, it takes far to long to get to them to save anyone, and 90% of the people that conceal their guns are to busy hiding the fact they pissed in their pants when they heard the first shot to even attempt to pull their weapons. If the NRA would spend 1/10 the money educating the public on open carry rights they already have and not to be scared of a law abiding citizen with a gun on their side, than trying to get these bogus concealed carry laws passed we would have a much safer society. Had there been several people with guns on their sides visible to this nutcase he would have never pulled out his gun.

      Report Post »  
  • awall1231
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:33am

    And thats why I have a concealed carry permit.

    Report Post » awall1231  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:51am

      Ditto.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • YesNdeedie
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:27am

      Definitely have mine too!

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:41am

      So guys, if you are out in public and you see some guy shooting some other people, how do you know which one is the good guy and who are the bad guys huh? Ever stop to think that the guy you are shooting at might be the good guy? Or do you just mow down everybody that you see with a gun? Ok so then I see you shooting at the guy with the gun, and say I start shooting at you, what would you think of that? You see what I am getting at fellas? CC can be good, but just because somebody is shooting, everybody doesn’t need to get in on it as well. You better be sure who you shoot at is a legit target or you will go to prison for a long time. A heck of a price to pay stupidity.

      Report Post »  
    • Ethereal
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:57am

      @Mil-Dot
      Thats where the tremendous responsibility of owning a gun comes into play. If you arent sure then dont shoot. At the very least the situation wont be any worse than it would have been, but if there’s a chance that it is known by somewone packing who the bad guy is this is a better situation. Having the ability to protect is still better than having no ability.

      Also what the hell is going on with people taking out their anger on children!!??

      Report Post » Ethereal  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:51pm

      I’d say in this instance, anyone shooting unarmed kids at a roller rink: shoot him, ask questions later.

      Report Post »  
  • Iman Barak Hussein
    Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:30am

    a common occurance at nyc ***** house parties.

    Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
    • TelepromoterNChief
      Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:36am

      Ignorance. I swear.

      Those kids don’t pack heat till their six years old.

      Geeesssh. . .

      Report Post »  
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