Appalachian Trail Shooter Strikes Again

Tuesday night, two men were shot on the Appalachian Trail, forcing the closure of a 25-mile section of the trail in Giles County, Virginia. One of the victims was shot in the neck and back, and is listed in serious but stable condition, while another was shot in the face and has been released. (The section of Virginia AT in question has since reopened.)

But most bizarrely of all, the suspected shooter, Randall Lee Smith, killed two people along the Appalachian Trail in Giles County almost 30 years ago. After spending 15 years in prison, the state released Smith on parole in 1996, which he completed in 2006.

According to one of the victim's brothers, Smith allegedly started talking with the two hikers, who were camped near the Dismal Creek section of the trail, when he just opened fire. The two men escaped to a car and drove to a house nearby for help, while Smith stole a car and sped off. He later crashed the car and had to be airlifted to a hospital, where he himself is listed in stable condition.

Neighbors describe Smith as "strange" and "weird," which I suppose is the nicest thing you can say about someone who kills people on the AT and then allegedly tries it again.

I hate it when stuff like this happens — random, horrific acts like these are the reason why non-outdoorsy people are afraid to go camping. (Well, that and bears, of course). Violent crime in the wilderness is really quite rare, but when it does happen, it lodges itself in the panic centers of the brain.

It's a strange coincidence that this happened within the 60-day public comment period for the Interior Department's review to allow guns in national parks. Guess the NRA and other backers now have a current incident to rally around.

— Ted Alvarez

Appalachian Trail reopens after Giles County shooting (WDBJ7.com)

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READERS COMMENTS

This wasn't in a National Park. It was wrong to associate it with that. But, since it was, I'd like to point out that is exactly why people need to be able to defend themselves and carry if they chose to. Honest law-abidding gun owners and backpackers aren't the ones shooting people. To get a concealed weapons permit you have to get fingerprinted, background check, and a metal evaluation in my state. You think after all that I'm gonna shoot someone? You can't legislate stupidity.
Posted: Jul 01, 2010 Chuck Moore

Mike- do you really think that a new law is going to stop someone who doesn't care about laws? obviously if he is willing to shoot someone (there are definitely current laws about that) do you think that a law telling him he cannot 'legally' carry a firearm is going to stop him? The only people new legislation would effect are the people that follow the laws to begin with (ie the ones who don't go out with the intent to shoot someone for reasons other than self defense.) guns don't kill people, people kill people
Posted: Jun 10, 2010 Dave

One of the first orders of our new President H. B. O. was to strike down President Bush's order allowing registered owners who have valid concealed weapon permit to carry concealed firearms in Federal Parks.
Apparently the new President doesn't want us to protect ourselves from being robbed in federal parks by drug addictecs and maybe a few nuts.
Posted: Feb 15, 2009 Robert Stevens

Posted: Feb 15, 2009 Robert Stevens

It is not the Citizens who are licensed to carry guns the ones committing the crimes. Guns should be allowed in Parks and incidents such as these may cease all together.
Posted: May 16, 2008 gh

Yep I agree why shouldn't we be allowed to carry a gun in the parks? These nut jobs aren't going to stop carrying them no matter what the law is, regular people need some way to defend them selves from the nut jobs of the world.
Posted: May 12, 2008 Rob

Actually, last week's shooting was at least a quarter-mile OFF the A.T., at a campground not on A.T. hikers' radar, at a fishing spot where the fishermen victims shared a three-hour dinner with Smith. Smith died Saturday evening in his jail cell about 24 hours after he was released from the hospital and formally charged. The Trail is up on a wooded ridge above the camping area, which is on a road.
Posted: May 11, 2008 Brian King

Sorry about the double-post above.

Randal Lee Smith, suspect in AT shootings reported dead:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/161591
Posted: May 11, 2008 Mike Puckett

"It's a strange coincidence that this happened within the 60-day public comment period for the Interior Department's review to allow guns in national parks. Guess the NRA and other backers now have a current incident to rally around."

And rightly so as the current regulations do nothing to prevent nuts like Smith from doing what he did. In fact, they just ensure he can carry out his heinous acts without fear of reprisal.
Posted: May 11, 2008 Mike Puckett