Mark O. Barton

Mark O. Barton was a spree killer from Stockbridge, Georgia, who, on July 31, 1999, shot and killed 9 people, injuring 13 more. The shootings occurred at two Atlanta day trading corporations -- Momentum Securities and the All-Tech Investment Group. It is believed that Barton was motivated by $105105,000 in losses over the previous two months. Barton committed suicide four hours later, at an Acworth gas station, having been spotted by the police.

Following the shootings, police found that Barton's wife and 2 children (Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, Matthew David Barton, and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton) had been murdered by hammer blows, a few days before. The children had then been placed facedown in a bathtub. Barton had been a suspect after the 1993 murders of his first wife, Deborah Spivey Barton, and her mother, Eloise Powell Spivey; who been beaten to death at Riverside Campground, Weiss Lake, in northeastern Alabama.

Quotes

• Immediately prior to the shootings he was heard to say:
  • "I hope this doesn't ruin your trading day."
• "There may be similarities between these deaths and the death of my first wife Debra Spivey. However, I deny killing her and her mother. There is no reason for me to lie now."