IHOP Shooting: Update 5 Dead

The International House of Pancake (IHOP) site in Carson City, Nevada, where a mass shooting occurred on September 6, 2011. Photo: KOLO-ABC News.

This is another view of the same IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Nevada, where multiple people were shot. Photo: Reno Journal Gazette.

With bullet holes seen in a window, officers look for evidence at the scene of a shooting at an IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Nevada. Photo: Cathleen Allison.

Three people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a Nevada IHOP restaurant Tuesday morning, wounding himself and nine other people.

The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. local time at the Carson City restaurant, located in a strip mall on the state capital's main street.

At least two of the three people killed were National Guardsmen in uniform.
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UPDATE September 7th
A third National Guard member, an as yet unidentified woman, has died from injuries suffered in a shooting rampage that took place at a Nevada IHOP restaurant, according to the Carson City, Nevada sheriff. The shooting spree has now left five people dead, including the shooter, and left seven wounded.
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It wasn't immediately clear whether the gunman had any connection with the military or the guard, said Nevada National Guard Sgt. Mike Getten. He said guard members were meeting at the restaurant.

Witnesses said a man pulled up in a blue minivan around 9 a.m. at the IHOP restaurant in a strip mall on Carson City's main street. He shot a man on a motorcycle, then walked inside the restaurant and started shooting, said Ralph Swagler, owner of Locals Barbecue in the same strip mall as the IHOP.

Swagler told the Reno Journal Gazette that after several minutes, the man walked outside and began firing into the Locals Barbecue and an H&R Block in the strip mall.

Law enforcement officers responded but fired no shots during the ordeal.

One victim died at a hospital in Carson City. Seven additional victims are now being treated at area hospitals, authorities said.

A man with an AK-47 assault rifle shot an entire group of five uniformed National Guard members eating breakfast at a Nevada IHOP, killing two of them and a woman nearby in a hail of gunfire.

The suspect, 32-year-old Eduardo Sencion of Carson City, also shot himself and later died at a hospital. 

Local and state police and FBI agents descended on the scene on South Carson Street, also called U.S. 395. Yellow tape surrounded the parking lot near a Kohl's department store in a shopping complex across the street from a casino and hotel.

The area formerly known as Eagle Valley was "discovered" by John C. Fremont (who would later be a presidential candidate of the Radical Republicans in 1864) and his exploration party in January 1843. Fremont named the river flowing through the valley Carson River in honor of Christopher "Kit" Carson, the mountain man and scout he had hired for his expedition. 

Carson City is the capital of Nevada and it is the source of a long history. For example, Carson Lodge # 1 has the distinction of being the first Freemason's lodge in the State of Nevada.  Its first records date back to early 1862 (when Nevada was still a Territory).  Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) visited this Lodge during the time when he was in Carson City.  

IHOPs have been the site of previous shootings.

In temporal context:

Monday (September 5, 2011) night...Fairchance, WV and then into Lewis County, KY...6 dead (including shooter)

Also Monday night (September 5, 2011), near Lake George, into Warren County, NY...3 dead (including shooter)

Then Tuesday morning (September 6, 2011), Carson City, NV...5 dead (including shooter)

Finally, Tuesday evening (September 6, 2011), shooting at Lorena's, West Philadelphia, PA...3 dead (apparent robbery)

("Lewis" and "Warren" are two names tied to Freemasonry onomatology.)

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Official IHOP Statements:

A senseless shooting at our IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Nevada earlier this morning resulted in a tragic loss of life. I’m on my way there now to assist in any way possible. Our hearts go out to the victims, members of their families and all those affected. Thank you for your continued thoughts and support for those in need. —Jean Birch, President, IHOP Restaurants. 9/6/11, 1:31 p.m. (PDT) Our hearts ache for all the victims of this senseless act of violence. I am in Carson City and am grateful to the public safety officials and first responders here. They could not be kinder or more professional. The people of Carson City have also shown incredible support for the victims and IHOP’s team members. I am grateful tp all and to the IHOP team members for their tremendous resolve during this tragedy. Thank you. Jean Birch President, IHOP Restaurants