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US university gunman kills five US university gunman kills five
(about 5 hours later)
A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, killing five people before turning the gun on himself, police say. A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, killing five people before turning the gun on himself.
The shooting took place at Northern Illinois University, in De Kalb, 65 miles (100km) west of Chicago.The shooting took place at Northern Illinois University, in De Kalb, 65 miles (100km) west of Chicago.
Students ran for cover as a white male armed with two handguns and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. Students ran for cover as a white male armed with two handguns and a shotgun opened fire during a science lecture.
Police said he had shot himself before they arrived on the scene and that there was no apparent motive. Another 16 people were injured in the attack. Police said there was no apparent motive.
Two weapons have been recovered and police are searching for a third firearm in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus. I kept thinking: 'Oh God, he's going to shoot me. Oh God, I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm dead' Desiree Smith, student Two weapons have been recovered and police are searching for a third firearm in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus.
The victims, four women and a man, were killed in a "brief, rapid-fire assault", university president John Peters said.The victims, four women and a man, were killed in a "brief, rapid-fire assault", university president John Peters said.
Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George GaynorStudent The university confirmed that the gunman was a former graduate student in sociology, but was not currently enrolled.
The gunman was believed to be a former graduate student in sociology, but he was not currently enrolled at the university, Mr Peters told a news conference. Earlier reports said 17 victims had been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
Earlier reports said 17 victims had been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, several with serious head wounds. Police say there is no apparent motive for the attackThe shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were shot by a student at Virginia Tech University in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school.
The shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were shot by a student at Virginia Tech University in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school.
It is also the fourth shooting at a US education establishment within a week.It is also the fourth shooting at a US education establishment within a week.
Last Friday, a woman shot dead two fellow students before killing herself at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Memphis, Tennessee, a 17-year-old is accused of shooting and critically wounding a student on Monday, and a 15-year-old was shot at a junior high school in California on Tuesday.Last Friday, a woman shot dead two fellow students before killing herself at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Memphis, Tennessee, a 17-year-old is accused of shooting and critically wounding a student on Monday, and a 15-year-old was shot at a junior high school in California on Tuesday.
Terrifying 'A lot of blood'
A student named John told local radio station WBBM that the gunman entered a lecture theatre and began firing a shotgun on the more than 100 students inside. Students described a panicked rush from the lecture theatre as the black-clad gunman walked onto the stage and opened fire.
Emergency workers were at the scene within minutes "I kept thinking, 'Oh God, he's going to shoot me. Oh God, I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm dead'," Desiree Smith, a student who dropped to the floor near the back of the auditorium, told AP news agency.
"He pointed it into the middle of the class... then he went for the teacher," John said. "People were crawling on each other, trampling each other," she said. "As I got near the door, I got up and I started running."
A student named Sheila told local radio station WBBM the gunman was quiet as he turned his weapons on the students.
"He just stood on the stage in front of everybody and just started shooting," she said.
"I saw a lot of blood. I have blood all over my clothes."
George Gaynor, a senior geography student, told the student newspaper that the gunman was "a skinny white guy with a stocking cap on".George Gaynor, a senior geography student, told the student newspaper that the gunman was "a skinny white guy with a stocking cap on".
He described the scene immediately following the incident as terrifying and chaotic.He described the scene immediately following the incident as terrifying and chaotic.
"Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg," he said."Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg," he said.
The university's website first issued alerts, warning of the possibility of a gunman on campus. Emergency workers were at the scene within minutes
Students warned each other by mobile phone within minutes of the shootings, and the university's website issued alerts, warning of the possibility of a gunman on campus.
"Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear," it warned students."Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear," it warned students.
The site then carried updates confirming the shooting and telling students to stay away or stay in doors. It then said the gunman was "no longer a threat".The site then carried updates confirming the shooting and telling students to stay away or stay in doors. It then said the gunman was "no longer a threat".
Emergency hotlines and counselling are being offered for students and parents.Emergency hotlines and counselling are being offered for students and parents.
Mr Peters urged students to remain calm and support each other.
"We've asked them to reach out to each other during this difficult time, and they've done that, and I'm proud of them."
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