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| Illinois student killer is named | Illinois student killer is named |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police have identified a gunman who killed five students when he opened fire at a university near Chicago as former student Stephen Kazmierczak. | Police have identified a gunman who killed five students when he opened fire at a university near Chicago as former student Stephen Kazmierczak. |
| The head of police at Northern Illinois University, Don Grady, said Kazmierczak had studied sociology there in 2007. | The head of police at Northern Illinois University, Don Grady, said Kazmierczak had studied sociology there in 2007. |
| Mr Grady said it was not known why Kazmierczak, 27, who was armed with three handguns and a shotgun, opened fire in a crowded lecture hall. | Mr Grady said it was not known why Kazmierczak, 27, who was armed with three handguns and a shotgun, opened fire in a crowded lecture hall. |
| Another 15 people were injured before Kazmierczak killed himself. | Another 15 people were injured before Kazmierczak killed himself. |
| Student Desiree Smith, who was in the hall, said the gunman suddenly appeared 10 minutes before the end of the lecture. | Student Desiree Smith, who was in the hall, said the gunman suddenly appeared 10 minutes before the end of the lecture. |
| She said: "He was dressed all in black, he had a black ski cap on and then I saw him shoot. | She said: "He was dressed all in black, he had a black ski cap on and then I saw him shoot. |
| "He aimed at our professor and I did see our professor shot in the arm." | "He aimed at our professor and I did see our professor shot in the arm." |
| There were no red flags Don Grady University mournsEyewitnesses speak | |
| Mr Grady said there had been nothing to suggest Kazmierczak would commit such an act, but added he had become erratic in recent weeks after he stopped taking some unspecified medication. | Mr Grady said there had been nothing to suggest Kazmierczak would commit such an act, but added he had become erratic in recent weeks after he stopped taking some unspecified medication. |
| "Actually, there were no red flags," the police chief said. | "Actually, there were no red flags," the police chief said. |
| "He was someone that was revered by the faculty and staff and students alike. | "He was someone that was revered by the faculty and staff and students alike. |
| 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, saying police had been on the scene within minutes. | He praised the actions of the emergency services, saying police had been on the scene within minutes. |
| Counselling | Counselling |
| The gunman's tearful father, Robert Kazmierczak, told reporters outside his home in Lakeland, Florida, that it was a "very hard time" for him, but was too upset to say more. | The gunman's tearful father, Robert Kazmierczak, told reporters outside his home in Lakeland, Florida, that it was a "very hard time" for him, but was too upset to say more. |
| The gunman's father wept outside his Florida home | The gunman's father wept outside his Florida home |
| The university's president, John Peters, said the police had rehearsed for such an eventuality. | The university's president, John Peters, said 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. |
| US President George W Bush expressed his sorrow at the shootings, saying: "Obviously, a tragic situation on that campus, and I asked our fellow citizens to offer their blessings." | US President George W Bush expressed his sorrow at the shootings, saying: "Obviously, a tragic situation on that campus, and I asked our fellow citizens to offer their blessings." |
| As 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. | As 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. |
| The shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were killed by a student at Virginia Tech in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school. | The shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were killed by a student at Virginia Tech in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school. |