This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7246003.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Gunman opens fire at US college | Gunman opens fire at US college |
(11 minutes later) | |
A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, wounding at least 17 people. | A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, wounding at least 17 people. |
The shooting took place at Northern Illinois University, in De Kalb, 65 miles (100km) west of Chicago. | |
Students described the chaos as a white male armed with a handgun and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. | |
Police confirmed the gunman had killed himself on the stage of the auditorium. Several people have been taken to hospital with serious head wounds. | |
At a news conference, police said they had recovered a shotgun and handgun and were searching for a third small firearm. | |
Police said the gunman appeared to be operating alone and it was not yet clear how many rounds of ammunition had been fired. | |
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. | 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. |
Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George Gaynorstudent | Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George Gaynorstudent |
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. |
On Thursday, Kishwaukee Community Hospital said 17 patients had arrived for treatment. Three were in a critical condition, one of whom has been flown to a bigger hospital in Rockford. | On Thursday, Kishwaukee Community Hospital said 17 patients had arrived for treatment. Three were in a critical condition, one of whom has been flown to a bigger hospital in Rockford. |
Eight are in a stable condition, six in a good condition and there are no reported fatalities, the hospital said on its website. | Eight are in a stable condition, six in a good condition and there are no reported fatalities, the hospital said on its website. |
"We don't expect to transfer any further patients," it added. | "We don't expect to transfer any further patients," it added. |
The shooting took place in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus. | The shooting took place in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus. |
Terrifying | Terrifying |
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. | 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. |
"He pointed it into the middle of the class... then he went for the teacher," John said. | "He pointed it into the middle of the class... then he went for the teacher," John said. |
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. | |
"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. |
Online alert | Online alert |
The university's website first issued alerts, warning of the possibility of a gunman on campus. | The university's website first 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. |
Are you in the area? Do you have any friends or family at the university? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in the area? Do you have any friends or family at the university? Send us your comments using the form below |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |