A shooting took place at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg at around 10:40 a.m. Thursday morning, killing 10 people and injuring at least seven others, authorities said. Three of those wounded are in critical condition.
Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said that the names of victims will not be released for at least one day due to ongoing investigations, the Washington Post reported.
The male shooter was confirmed deceased at the scene, according to Hanlin at a press conference. Two officers responded on the scene quickly, Hanlin said. Police engaged with the shooter at the scene, where there was an exchange of gunfire, and he acted alone. No officers were injured.
LifeFlight sent six aircrafts to the scene, according to Justin Dillingham, a chief customer officer at LifeFlight.
Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg tweeted at 2:22 p.m. that they received 10 victims from the shooting. PeaceHealth Oregon tweeted at 1:35 p.m. that three female victims arrived at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield and that they are expecting others. They are between the ages of 18-34, and all have gunshot wounds.
According to CNN, the identity of the shooter is 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer. Hanlin would not confirm the shooter’s name during a press conference at 7:20 p.m.
According to UOPD spokesman Kelly McIver, a Douglas County Dispatcher said the suspect involved in the shooting was detained at 11:38 a.m.
“At this point, people [at UO] should go about their day with classes and research as usual,” McIver said.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office released in a statement that all students and faculty are being transported by bus to the Douglas County Fairgrounds and are recommending that families of students and faculty go there to meet with their family members. According to sports reporter Joseph Hoyt, on scene reporting for the Washington Post, people at the fairgrounds are volunteering to drive students home.
OSP issued a press release stating that they believe there is only one shooter that is not a threat and that there is no current threat to the community.
At 2:34 p.m. on Thursday, University of Oregon President Michael Schill sent an email to the campus community with a comment on the Umpqua Community College shooting.
“Today’s heinous act of violence at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg is a terrible tragedy that affects all of us,” Schill said. “Our hearts go out to the students, faculty, and staff of our sister institution, and to their loved ones.”
Umpqua Community College tweeted that the campus will be closed until Monday, October 5th, and all student activities for this weekend have been cancelled.
More updates to come.
Shooting at Umpqua Community College leaves multiple casualties
Caley Eller
September 30, 2015
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