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US university gunman kills five US university gunman kills five
(about 1 hour 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, 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 ran for cover as a white male armed with two handguns 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. Police said he had shot himself before they arrived on the scene and that there was no apparent motive.
At a news conference, police said they had recovered a shotgun and handgun and were searching for a third small firearm. 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.
Police said the gunman appeared to be operating alone and it was not yet clear how many rounds of ammunition had been fired. The victims, four women and a man, were killed in a "brief, rapid-fire assault", university president John Peters said.
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 GaynorstudentSome girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George Gaynorstudent
The gunman was believed to be a former graduate student in sociology, but that 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, several with serious head wounds.
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.
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.
"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.
TerrifyingTerrifying
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.
The emergency services were at the scene within minutes
"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
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.
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