Mark O. Barton
Atlanta Day Trading Firm Shootings
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
TIME PERIOD
July 27 – 29, 1999
VICTIMS
13 confirmed
On July 29, 1999, Mark Orrin Barton, a 44-year-old former day trader, carried out a shooting spree at two Atlanta-area day trading firms, Momentum Securities and All-Tech Investment Group, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals and injuries to 13 others. Prior to the shootings, Barton murdered his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver, and his two children, Matthew and Mychelle, at their home in Stockbridge, Georgia, on July 27 and 28, respectively, using a hammer. The incident was motivated by significant financial losses Barton had incurred, and he left a note expressing his rationale for the killings. Following the shootings, Barton committed suicide before law enforcement could apprehend him, marking this event as the deadliest mass shooting in Georgia's history. Investigative findings included multiple firearms used in the attack and the discovery of the bodies of his family members at his residence.
Mark Orrin Barton is believed to have been motivated by significant financial losses from day trading, which contributed to his mental instability leading up to the shootings. Some speculate that the pressure and stress of trading losses may have exacerbated existing personal issues, causing him to commit the murders of his family before the shooting spree at the trading firms. Additionally, there is a theory that Barton may have targeted the firms as a form of revenge against the financial system that he felt had wronged him.
The 1999 Atlanta Day Trading Firm Shootings: A Tragic Tale of Betrayal and Loss
Prelude to Tragedy
In the summer of 1999, the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia, became the backdrop for a harrowing tale of financial ruin and familial destruction. On July 29, the city witnessed a chilling shooting spree that claimed the lives of nine individuals and left an indelible mark on the community. The man behind this deadly assault was Mark Orrin Barton, a 44-year-old former day trader. His violent actions culminated in his own suicide, leaving a trail of devastation and unanswered questions.
The Darkness Within
Barton’s journey into darkness began on July 27, 1999. In the quiet confines of his Stockbridge, Georgia, home, Barton bludgeoned his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver, to death as she slept. The following night, his children from a previous marriage, 11-year-old Matthew and 8-year-old Mychelle, met a similar fate. Barton left notes on their bodies, desperately trying to rationalize his heinous acts. “I killed Leigh Ann because she was one of the main reasons for my demise,” he wrote, expressing a twisted sense of love and belief in a spiritual reunion in the afterlife.
A Day of Violence
On the morning of July 29, Barton carried his rage into the city. His first stop was the office of Momentum Securities in Atlanta, where he once worked. There, he greeted his former coworkers with chilling nonchalance, saying, “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trading day!” before drawing two pistols and opening fire. In a brutal assault, Barton killed four people and severely injured others, including Brad Schoemehl, who miraculously survived being shot three times at point-blank range.
Unsatisfied, Barton moved to the nearby All-Tech Investment Group. Luring his former bosses, Brent Doonan and Scott Manspeaker, along with assistant Kathy Camp, into a private room, he unleashed a barrage of bullets. Doonan was shot five times, Camp was left permanently blinded, and all three were grievously wounded. Barton then continued his rampage, killing five more victims before fleeing the scene, leaving behind chaos and bloodshed.
The Aftermath
As police arrived, Barton had already vanished, leaving behind a scene of carnage and despair. Investigators soon discovered the bodies of his family at his Stockbridge home, along with notes vehemently denying any involvement in the past murders of his first wife and mother-in-law in 1993. Despite Barton’s claims of innocence, authorities continued to suspect his involvement in those unsolved cases.
The manhunt for Barton was intense. Four hours after the shootings at All-Tech, Barton attempted to take a young girl hostage in Kennesaw. Her quick escape and subsequent call to the police led officers to his location. The chase ended at a gas station in Acworth, Georgia, where, cornered and with no way out, Barton took his own life.
The Man Behind the Madness
Mark Orrin Barton was born on April 2, 1955, into an Air Force family in Stockbridge, Georgia. Raised in South Carolina, Barton attended Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. He married Debra Spivey, and together they had two children. However, Barton’s life was fraught with turmoil. After losing his job in Alabama, he was caught sabotaging company data and briefly jailed. His marriage deteriorated, leading to an affair with Leigh Ann Vandiver, a friend of his wife.
The deaths of his first wife, Debra, and her mother, Eloise, in 1993 cast a long shadow over Barton’s life. Though the primary suspect, he was never charged due to insufficient evidence. Nevertheless, the $294,000 insurance payout from Debra’s death financed his foray into day trading—a venture that ultimately led to his downfall. Barton’s risk-laden investments in Internet stocks resulted in catastrophic financial losses, exacerbating his mental health issues, which included severe depression and paranoid delusions.
The Victims
The lives lost in the July 29 massacre included:
- Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, 27, his wife
- Matthew David Barton, 11, his son
- Mychelle Elizabeth Barton, 8, his daughter
- Allen Charles Tenenbaum, 48, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Dean Delawalla, 52, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Joseph J. Dessert, 60, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Jamshid Havash, 45, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Vadewattee Muralidhara, 44, a student at All-Tech Investment Group
- Edward Quinn, 58, day trader at Momentum Securities
- Kevin Dial, 36, office manager at Momentum Securities
- Russell J. Brown, 42, day trader at Momentum Securities
- Scott A. Webb, 30, day trader at Momentum Securities
A City Remembers
Ten years later, on July 29, 2009, Atlanta paused to remember the victims of that tragic day. The city reflected on the senseless loss of life and the enduring impact of Barton’s violent actions on the community. The 1999 Atlanta day trading firm shootings remain a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked despair and desperation.
Sources
For further reading and source material, visit the Wikipedia article on Mark O. Barton.
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Wife Murdered
Mark Barton bludgeons his second wife, Leigh Ann, to death at their home.
Children Murdered
Barton kills his two children, Matthew and Mychelle, the following night.
Shooting Spree Begins
Barton opens fire at Momentum Securities, killing four people.
All-Tech Shooting
Barton moves to All-Tech Investment Group, killing five more and injuring several others.
Manhunt Initiated
An intense manhunt begins for Barton after the shootings.
Barton Commits Suicide
Barton kills himself during a police chase at a gas station.
Investigation Findings
Police discover the bodies of Barton's family and his suicide note detailing his motives.
Public Mourning
Vigils and memorials are held for the victims of the shooting spree.
On July 29, 1999, Mark Orrin Barton, a 44-year-old former day trader, carried out a shooting spree at two Atlanta-area day trading firms, Momentum Securities and All-Tech Investment Group, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals and injuries to 13 others. Prior to the shootings, Barton murdered his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver, and his two children, Matthew and Mychelle, at their home in Stockbridge, Georgia, on July 27 and 28, respectively, using a hammer. The incident was motivated by significant financial losses Barton had incurred, and he left a note expressing his rationale for the killings. Following the shootings, Barton committed suicide before law enforcement could apprehend him, marking this event as the deadliest mass shooting in Georgia's history. Investigative findings included multiple firearms used in the attack and the discovery of the bodies of his family members at his residence.
Mark Orrin Barton is believed to have been motivated by significant financial losses from day trading, which contributed to his mental instability leading up to the shootings. Some speculate that the pressure and stress of trading losses may have exacerbated existing personal issues, causing him to commit the murders of his family before the shooting spree at the trading firms. Additionally, there is a theory that Barton may have targeted the firms as a form of revenge against the financial system that he felt had wronged him.
The 1999 Atlanta Day Trading Firm Shootings: A Tragic Tale of Betrayal and Loss
Prelude to Tragedy
In the summer of 1999, the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia, became the backdrop for a harrowing tale of financial ruin and familial destruction. On July 29, the city witnessed a chilling shooting spree that claimed the lives of nine individuals and left an indelible mark on the community. The man behind this deadly assault was Mark Orrin Barton, a 44-year-old former day trader. His violent actions culminated in his own suicide, leaving a trail of devastation and unanswered questions.
The Darkness Within
Barton’s journey into darkness began on July 27, 1999. In the quiet confines of his Stockbridge, Georgia, home, Barton bludgeoned his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver, to death as she slept. The following night, his children from a previous marriage, 11-year-old Matthew and 8-year-old Mychelle, met a similar fate. Barton left notes on their bodies, desperately trying to rationalize his heinous acts. “I killed Leigh Ann because she was one of the main reasons for my demise,” he wrote, expressing a twisted sense of love and belief in a spiritual reunion in the afterlife.
A Day of Violence
On the morning of July 29, Barton carried his rage into the city. His first stop was the office of Momentum Securities in Atlanta, where he once worked. There, he greeted his former coworkers with chilling nonchalance, saying, “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trading day!” before drawing two pistols and opening fire. In a brutal assault, Barton killed four people and severely injured others, including Brad Schoemehl, who miraculously survived being shot three times at point-blank range.
Unsatisfied, Barton moved to the nearby All-Tech Investment Group. Luring his former bosses, Brent Doonan and Scott Manspeaker, along with assistant Kathy Camp, into a private room, he unleashed a barrage of bullets. Doonan was shot five times, Camp was left permanently blinded, and all three were grievously wounded. Barton then continued his rampage, killing five more victims before fleeing the scene, leaving behind chaos and bloodshed.
The Aftermath
As police arrived, Barton had already vanished, leaving behind a scene of carnage and despair. Investigators soon discovered the bodies of his family at his Stockbridge home, along with notes vehemently denying any involvement in the past murders of his first wife and mother-in-law in 1993. Despite Barton’s claims of innocence, authorities continued to suspect his involvement in those unsolved cases.
The manhunt for Barton was intense. Four hours after the shootings at All-Tech, Barton attempted to take a young girl hostage in Kennesaw. Her quick escape and subsequent call to the police led officers to his location. The chase ended at a gas station in Acworth, Georgia, where, cornered and with no way out, Barton took his own life.
The Man Behind the Madness
Mark Orrin Barton was born on April 2, 1955, into an Air Force family in Stockbridge, Georgia. Raised in South Carolina, Barton attended Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. He married Debra Spivey, and together they had two children. However, Barton’s life was fraught with turmoil. After losing his job in Alabama, he was caught sabotaging company data and briefly jailed. His marriage deteriorated, leading to an affair with Leigh Ann Vandiver, a friend of his wife.
The deaths of his first wife, Debra, and her mother, Eloise, in 1993 cast a long shadow over Barton’s life. Though the primary suspect, he was never charged due to insufficient evidence. Nevertheless, the $294,000 insurance payout from Debra’s death financed his foray into day trading—a venture that ultimately led to his downfall. Barton’s risk-laden investments in Internet stocks resulted in catastrophic financial losses, exacerbating his mental health issues, which included severe depression and paranoid delusions.
The Victims
The lives lost in the July 29 massacre included:
- Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, 27, his wife
- Matthew David Barton, 11, his son
- Mychelle Elizabeth Barton, 8, his daughter
- Allen Charles Tenenbaum, 48, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Dean Delawalla, 52, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Joseph J. Dessert, 60, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Jamshid Havash, 45, day trader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Vadewattee Muralidhara, 44, a student at All-Tech Investment Group
- Edward Quinn, 58, day trader at Momentum Securities
- Kevin Dial, 36, office manager at Momentum Securities
- Russell J. Brown, 42, day trader at Momentum Securities
- Scott A. Webb, 30, day trader at Momentum Securities
A City Remembers
Ten years later, on July 29, 2009, Atlanta paused to remember the victims of that tragic day. The city reflected on the senseless loss of life and the enduring impact of Barton’s violent actions on the community. The 1999 Atlanta day trading firm shootings remain a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked despair and desperation.
Sources
For further reading and source material, visit the Wikipedia article on Mark O. Barton.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Wife Murdered
Mark Barton bludgeons his second wife, Leigh Ann, to death at their home.
Children Murdered
Barton kills his two children, Matthew and Mychelle, the following night.
Shooting Spree Begins
Barton opens fire at Momentum Securities, killing four people.
All-Tech Shooting
Barton moves to All-Tech Investment Group, killing five more and injuring several others.
Manhunt Initiated
An intense manhunt begins for Barton after the shootings.
Barton Commits Suicide
Barton kills himself during a police chase at a gas station.
Investigation Findings
Police discover the bodies of Barton's family and his suicide note detailing his motives.
Public Mourning
Vigils and memorials are held for the victims of the shooting spree.