Even if you "read it in context" are God's actions any less cruel?

"Cruel" is a word that can't be used with God because you are trying to judge God by human standards and it doesn't work that way. God does nothing "mindlessly". Just because you may not understand His ways, doesn't make them wrong. All of us are born into sin, all of face death because of that. God doles out punishment and retribution as He sees fit. In the Old testament, without Christ's eventual "new covenant" people were punished with death and that sometimes applying to their family members. But no one is an "innocent". God created us, God can take our lives. Mass shooters cannot be compared to God. We are not permitted to take a life, only God can do that.