View source for Samson, Alabama

===2009 shooting===
{{main|Geneva County shootings}}
On March 10, 2009, in the Alabama towns of [[Kinston, Alabama|Kinston]], Samson and [[Geneva, Alabama|Geneva]], the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history took place in Geneva County. Twenty-eight-year-old Michael McLendon began this massacre by killing his mother and burning down her house in Kinston. He then headed east about 10 miles on Highway 52 and went on an hour-long shooting spree with two high-powered weapons in downtown Samson and a few of its neighborhoods. McLendon then headed to Geneva. McLendon killed ten people and wounded six others in the shooting rampage before committing suicide.
 
In response, troops from nearby [[Fort Rucker]] were deployed to the streets of Samson, where they manned barricades and guarded a makeshift morgue. This was later determined to be in violation of the [[Posse Comitatus Act]], which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions.<ref>[http://www.military.com/news/article/troop-use-after-ala-shootings-illegal.html?col=1186032310810 "Troop use After Ala. Shootings Illegal"] - Military.com</ref>

Reportedly, McLendon had talked to a confidant about being depressed and frustrated with his inability to become a Marine or a police officer.

Authorities also said McLendon admitted in a two-page, handwritten letter that he had killed his mother and planned to commit suicide. He mentioned a family dispute over a legal issue but did not reveal plans to kill anyone else. Investigators said they found the letter in a mailbox. They would not disclose its intended recipient.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2009 |title=Ala. shooter was depressed over failures |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29665786 |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>