6 killed, 16 injured in shooting at N. Illinois University

by The Associated Press | February 14, 2008 at 06:03 pm

3585 views | 5 Recommendations | 7 comments

UPDATE: A gunman opened fire in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, killing 5 people and injuring 16, before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. "Campus police report that the immediate danger has passed. The gunman is no longer a threat," the school reported on its Web site at 4:14 p.m.

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With minutes left in a class in ocean sciences at Northern Illinois University on Thursday afternoon, a tall skinny man dressed in black stepped out from behind a curtain on the stage of the lecture hall, said nothing, and opened fire with a shotgun, the authorities and witnesses said.

The man fired again and again, witnesses said, perhaps 20 times. Students in the large lecture hall, stunned, dropped to the floor.

Five people, all of them students, were killed, John G. Peters, the president of Northern Illinois, said at a news conference Thursday evening. Sixteen others were injured. Hospital officials said several of the students had been shot in the head.

The gunman, whom the authorities did not immediately identify, also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Mr. Peters said, noting that the man’s body was found on the stage. Police from the campus, in a snow-filled city of about 40,000 people 65 miles due west of Chicago, said three weapons were found with the man’s body — two handguns, including a Glock, and the shotgun. He had ammunition left over, the police here said.

The gunman had been a graduate student at the university in 2007 but was no longer enrolled, Mr. Peters said.

PREVIOUSLY:

A gunman opened fire in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, injuring as many as 15 people, authorities said. "Campus police report that the immediate danger has passed. The gunman is no longer a threat," the school reported on its Web site at 4:14 p.m.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital said on its Web site up to 15 victims were arriving, including three to four with head wounds.

The shooting took place around 3 p.m. in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place on the 25,000-student campus, according to the Web site.

All classes were canceled Thursday night and the campus was closed on Friday. Students were urged to call their parents "as soon as possible" and were offered counseling at any residence hall, according to the school Web site.

The Associated Press left messages for university police and police in DeKalb, located about 65 miles west of Chicago.

From the school's website.

2/14/08

5:20 p.m.

Many of the shooting victims have been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.

5:12 p.m.

Police are confirming that the shooter is dead by a self-inflicted gunshot.

A press conference will be held in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium at 5:30 p.m.

4:39 p.m.

A media staging area is available in the auditorium of Altgeld Hall (castle building on east side of campus).

4:31 p.m.

All NIU students are asked to call their parents as soon as possible.

4:24 p.m.

Campus police reiterate that an immediate danger has passed. Students should return to their residence halls and stay there. All classes are cancelled and all NIU campuses are closed for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08).

4:14 p.m.

Campus police report that the immediate danger has passed. The gunman is no longer a threat. The DeKalb campus is closed tomorrow. All NIU classes are cancelled and campuses are closed for tonight and tomorrow. Students can go to any residence hall for counseling.

4:10 p.m.

Campus police report that the scene is secure. Only essential personnel should remain on campus.

The following hotlines are available for students & parents.

    * 815-753-1573
    * 815-753-6143
    * 815-753-1574
    * 815-753-1575
    * 815-753-9564
    * 815-753-6257

Counseling is also available on campus for students at the Neptune Dining Hall, Campus Life Building 100 and the Psychological Services Center in the Psychology/Computer Science Building. Students may go to any residence hall for counseling.

3:50 p.m.

It has been confirmed that there has been a shooting on campus and several people have been taken away by ambulance. All NIU campuses are closed and classes are cancelled for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08) on the DeKalb campus. People are urged not to come to campus. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

3:40 p.m.

All classes on the DeKalb campus are cancelled for tonight. All NIU campuses are closed and all classes are cancelled for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08).

3:20 p.m.

There has been a report of a possible gunman on campus. Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear. Avoid the King Commons and all buildings in that vicinity.

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

ryan

at 14:04 on February 14th, 2008

I've flagged this as breaking. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.

comoms

at 14:13 on February 14th, 2008

Cnn is stating that 18 people have been injured. The number is not confirmed.

Jordan Yerman

at 14:22 on February 14th, 2008

A PR guy from the University is saying that the gunman is "no longer a threat"

comoms

at 14:24 on February 14th, 2008

Gunman is confirmed DEAD. The University says that the THREAT HAS PASED and it is now safe.

The confirmed injured or dead still un-confirmed. approximatley 15-18 CNN reports.

ryan

at 15:40 on February 14th, 2008

Due to an incident at Northern Illinois University, we will be using this

Web site to update you as often as possible.

The most recent update was made at 5:26 p.m. on Thursday 2/14

17 patients have arrived.

3 – critical condition

1 - flown out to Saint Anthony

8 – stable

6 – good condition

No reported fatalities

We don’t expect to transfer any further patients.

More details will be available shortly.

Roberto Alvarez-Galloso

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:18 on February 14th, 2008

The Associated Press, I am shocked but not surprised.

Jarrett Martineau

at 22:16 on February 14th, 2008

The AP is reporting a timeline of today's events:

A man opened fire Thursday in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University, killing five people and wounding more than a dozen others before taking his own life. The following is a timeline of events:

_2 p.m.: Geology 104 begins in a large lecture classroom in Cole Hall. More than 160 students are registered for the class.

_Shortly after 3 p.m.: A man dressed in black and carrying a shotgun and two handguns steps out from hiding and begins a "very brief rapid-fire assault" before killing himself, says NIU President John Peters. Campus police are on the scene in "less than two minutes," says NIU Police Chief Donald Grady.

_3:20 p.m.: Officials post a message on NIU's Web site saying there is a report of a possible gunman on campus and warn students to "get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear."

_3:40 p.m.: NIU officials say all classes are canceled and campus is closed.

_3:50 p.m.: School officials confirm there has been a shooting on campus and several people have been taken away by ambulance. Officials urge people not to come to campus.

_4:10 p.m.: Campus police report on the Web site that the scene is secure.

_4:14 p.m.: Campus police say the immediate danger has passed and "the gunman is no longer a threat."

_4:31 p.m.: NIU officials ask all students to call their parents as soon as possible.

_5:12 p.m.: Police say at a news conference the shooter is dead by a self-inflicted gunshot.

_5:43 p.m.: NIU officials say 18 victims have been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb. They say four victims are in critical condition.

_7:58 p.m.: Peters confirms at a news conference that the gunman killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others before fatally shooting himself. He says there is no known motive.