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| US university gunman kills five | |
| (about 2 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. | |
| 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 described the chaos as a white male armed with a handgun and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. | Students described the chaos as a white male armed with a handgun and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. |
| Earlier reports said at least 17 people were injured and that several were being treated for serious head wounds. | Earlier reports said at least 17 people were injured and that several were being treated for serious head wounds. |
| At a news conference, police said they had recovered a shotgun and handgun and were searching for a third small firearm. | 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. | 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". | 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. |
| 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. |