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Shooting Spree Leaves Alabama EMT/Firefighter Without Wife, Son and Two Family Members
Lance Griffin
Dothan Eagle, Ala.
Mar. 13--SAMSON -- It was going to be a great weekend for the Wise family.
Murray and Tracy Wise would have celebrated their 18th anniversary on Sunday. Their simple, private celebration may have included pleasant memories of the past 18 years such as their last family vacation to Gatlinburg, or all the way back to 1990, when Tracy quit school in the 10th grade to marry the man she loved.
For Murray and his 15-year-old son, Dean, the weekend would extend into Monday, the first day of turkey season.
Fund Established
According to WTVY, Murray was a volunteer with the Samson Rescue Squad as well as the local fire department. The squad set up a special account at: Samson Banking Company Inc., 2 West Main St, Samson, AL 36477.For more information about the fund, you can contact Melissa Stinson at 334-248-3663.
They loved to hunt. Even before Dean was old enough to hunt, father and son would go into the woods, sit and watch. They would try to remain quiet, but sometimes Dean and Murray would talk about Alabama football. A full day without a deer or turkey kill was never a wasted day for the two.
But Murray Wise is planning funerals today instead of anniversary celebrations and hunting trips and wondering why a crazed gunman would take away his family.
Wise stood outside his home Thursday afternoon, less than 30 yards from where Michael McLendon shot and killed his wife and son Tuesday in a crazed killing spree. He said he can still stand only because of the prayers of friends and strangers. Still, he literally clings to his sisters for support.
"The 15 years I had with my son and the 18 years I had with Tracy were good, but I need more," he said.
"I'm lost without (Tracy). She kept me alive."
Tracy Wise was simply known as "Tator" to the Samson community, and everyone knew her. To Murray, Tator had the strongest will in southeast Alabama. After quitting school in the 10th grade, she acquired her GED and put herself through law school at the University of Alabama. She later became the town's magistrate and struck fear into the hearts of the town's lawbreakers.
"People were afraid of her if they had to go in front of her because they knew she would put them in jail," Murray Wise said.
Murray Wise was working just below the state line in Florida on Tuesday when he received the call that buckled his knees and crushed his world.
"I just broke down," he said. "I couldn't stand up."
He will bury his wife and son Tuesday in Samson. He plans to establish a scholarship fund in the name of Dean Wise for deserving local students.
"I want their names to be in this community for as long as I'm around," he said.
http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/41175937.html
Samson Man Grieves the Loss of Four Family Members
One Samson man who lost his wife and son in Tuesday’s tragic shootings tries to come to grips with his loss. The community is coming together to do whatever it can to support him.
Murray Wise gave his spare time helping save lives.
Now he's grieving over the loss of lives and promising to find a way to for all to remember them.
Wise says, “It's been the most difficult thing in my life, to lose my son and my wife, all in a matter of seconds.”
Murray Wise's wife and son were gunned down by Michael Mclendon on a porch just down the road. During the murderous rampage, Wise's father in law and his wife's grandmother were killed too. He says his loss has been unbearable.
Wise says, “That’s my beautiful wife right there.”
Traci left school in tenth grade to be with Murray. She got her GED and a law degree and was a magistrate in town. Together they had a son, their only child.
“and Dean, lord, he was one and only. Loved his deer hunting, loved his Alabama football.”
Murray volunteers his time on the Samson rescue squad and with the fire department. Members of the rescue squad set up a special fund account in his name.
Stinson says, “We are a close family and Murray was one of our own and so his family was ours too.”
The streets of Samson are quiet today as folks try to cope with the tragedy. City officials say the town will never be the same.
King says, “I think it makes people realize we're not immune to events like this.”
Only time will tell how this small town will heal after one man's murderous rampage.
Funeral arrangements have been set four all four family members.
A viewing will be held at the First Baptist Church in Samson on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m.
The funeral will be held Tuesday at 11:00 at the First Baptist Church.
The special fund will be located at the Samson Banking Company Inc., 2 West Main St, Samson, AL 36477.
Murray says a portion of the funds will be allocated to a scholarship in his son's memory.
For more information about the fund, you can contact Melissa Stinson at 334....
http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/41244142.html
Town Comedian Hailed As Hero in Alabama Killings
SAMSON, Ala. (AP) - Bruce Maloy was known as Samson's town
comedian who was always boasting about hitting it big someday.
Now, Maloy is emerging as a hero.
On Friday, witnesses and authorities said Maloy, the 10th and
final victim of Tuesday's shooting rampage by Michael McLendon,
tried to end the violence with his beat-up old pickup truck.
With gunshots still echoing through downtown Samson, Maloy
chased McLendon's dark red Mitsubishi out of town and rammed the
vehicle at least once. Geneva County Chief Deputy Tony Helms says
Maloy may have given police time to catch up to McLendon.
The killer shot the 51-year-old welder to death at a lonesome
spot on Alabama 52 before eluding police in Geneva and killing
himself with a single gunshot to the head.
http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/41232877.html
Victim of Samson shooting may have saved others
Posted: 5:27 PM Mar 13, 2009
Last Updated: 5:27 PM Mar 13, 2009
Reporter: Vanessa Araiza
Email Address:
vanessa@wtvy.com
Mayor Clay King says 51-year old Bruce Malloy may have saved many lives while giving his own.
King says Michael McLendon stopped at the Ace Hardware on Main Street and continued to shoot.
Malloy approached McLendon from behind with his vehicle, possibly causing him to keep driving.
Malloy then followed him to Geneva on Highway 52, that's when he rammed McLendon's vehicle.
King says that gave officers extra time to catch up and most likely saved more lives.
Maloy's funeral service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Ppittman Funeral Home in Samson.
