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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Illinois student killer is named | Illinois student killer is named |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police have identified a gunman who killed five students when he opened fire at a university near Chicago as a former student Stephen Kazmierczak. | Police have identified a gunman who killed five students when he opened fire at a university near Chicago as a former student Stephen Kazmierczak. |
| Head of police at Northern Illinois University, Don Grady, said Kazmierczak had studied sociology there in 2007. | Head of police at Northern Illinois University, Don Grady, said Kazmierczak had studied sociology there in 2007. |
| Chief Grady said it was not known why Kazmierczak - who was armed with three handguns and a shotgun - opened fire in a crowded lecture hall. | Chief Grady said it was not known why Kazmierczak - who was armed with three handguns and a shotgun - opened fire in a crowded lecture hall. |
| Another 15 people were injured before Kazmierczak shot and killed himself. | Another 15 people were injured before Kazmierczak shot and killed himself. |
| 'Outstanding student' | 'Outstanding student' |
| Kazmierczak was described by the police chief as having been an "outstanding student" and he said there had been nothing to suggest he would commit such an act. | Kazmierczak was described by the police chief as having been an "outstanding student" and he said there had been nothing to suggest he would commit such an act. |
| "Actually, there were no red flags. He was an outstanding student, he was an awarded student. He was someone that was revered by the faculty and staff and students alike," Chief Grady said. | "Actually, there were no red flags. He was an outstanding student, he was an awarded student. He was someone that was revered by the faculty and staff and students alike," Chief Grady said. |
| "So we had no problems and we've had no indications at all that this would be the type of person that would engage in such activities," he added. | "So we had no problems and we've had no indications at all that this would be the type of person that would engage in such activities," he added. |
| But Chief Grady did say that Kazmierczak, 27, had become erratic in recent weeks after he stopped taking some unspecified medication. | But Chief Grady did say that Kazmierczak, 27, had become erratic in recent weeks after he stopped taking some unspecified medication. |
| The police chief said it was still unclear how many shots had been fired, but 48 bullet casings had been found as well as six shotgun shells. | The police chief said it was still unclear how many shots had been fired, but 48 bullet casings had been found as well as six shotgun shells. |
| He praised the actions of the emergency services at the university, saying that police had been on the scene within minutes. | He praised the actions of the emergency services at the university, saying that police had been on the scene within minutes. |
| He said that the swift response had been thanks to excellent planning and teamwork | He said that the swift response had been thanks to excellent planning and teamwork |
| Counselling | Counselling |
| The university's president, John Peters, echoed that view saying the police had rehearsed for such an eventuality. | The university's president, John Peters, echoed that view saying the police had rehearsed for such an eventuality. |
| Mr Peters said there had been an outpouring of support from around the United States and the world following the attack. | Mr Peters said there had been an outpouring of support from around the United States and the world following the attack. |
| Emergency hotlines and counselling are available to studentsAs the university tries to come to terms with killings, counsellors have been arriving from neighbouring colleges to assist in the grieving process. A candlelit vigil is planned for this evening on the campus. | Emergency hotlines and counselling are available to studentsAs the university tries to come to terms with killings, counsellors have been arriving from neighbouring colleges to assist in the grieving process. A candlelit vigil is planned for this evening on the campus. |
| It had been reported earlier that Kazmierczak had killed six students before committing suicide, but DeKalb County Coroner Rusty Miller has revised that figure, saying that five students, not six, were killed. | It had been reported earlier that Kazmierczak had killed six students before committing suicide, but DeKalb County Coroner Rusty Miller has revised that figure, saying that five students, not six, were killed. |
| Mr Miller said there had been confusion about the status of a patient being treated in a different county. | Mr Miller said there had been confusion about the status of a patient being treated in a different county. |
| 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. |