Cole shooting leaves gunman dead, others wounded
By ALAN EDRINN
Last updated on 00/00/0000 at 12:00 a.m.
A shotgun-wielding gunman who shot and injured at least five students in a Cole Hall ocean science lecture class shortly after 3 p.m. has been killed, police say.
“The gunman is deceased,” said Lt. Gary Spangler of the DeKalb Police Department, adding that the “majority of the incident happened in Cole Hall.”
Many of the victims are being taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, who in a 3:50 p.m. update to its Web site, has reported that three to four victims with head wounds have arrived, with up to 15 victims arriving.
More details will be posted on the hospital’s Web site as it becomes available.
George Gaynor, a senior geography student, who was in the class when the shooting happened, said the shooter was “a skinny white guy with a stocking cap on.”
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,” Gaynor said outside just minutes after the shooting occurred. “It was like five minutes before class ended too.”
University Police, DeKalb Police and other neighboring agencies are locking down campus, including a large portion of Lucinda Avenue completely closed down to traffic.
Good job on getting the story out as fast as possible online. I\'m sure you\'re the first destination for students right now for information.
Know that you\'re all in our thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to all of you. May everyone make it out okay.
As an Alumni(1972), I feel so bad for NIU and all the students and their famililes.
Thank you for being the best source about the shooting. Information is spotty at best.
Oh my heart is just breaking for the NIU community. Can remember like it was yesterday sitting in Cole Hall for lectures, even though it\'s been almost 25 years. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the entire NIU community.
I lived in DeKalb for 14 years and went to university often. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.
Virginia Tech student and employee here. You guys are in our thoughts and prayers. Be strong.
As former NIU students, my wife and I are sick about this. We both spent time as students in Cole. We will keep the wounded students in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days.
My thoughts go out to those vicitmized. I am curious to know if the campus is considered a gun free zone.
Your excellent, Johnny-on-the-spot reporting regarding the description of the shooter is mentioned in the latest Associated Press copy, which is now posted on several media Web sites, including The New York Times.
Having just graduated in May, I am in shock because of this situation. Just months ago, NIU was my home, and still continues to feel that way much of the time. My thoughts go out to all current NIU students and families. Be strong. Pull together.
Having just graduated from NIU this past December, I feel sick to my stomach that this happened. My heart goes out to the families for those injured and for the entire community.
I graduated in 1997 and 1999 - Cole was my classroom for Anthropology, Theatre, and Math. It was also the site of our closing video for Orientation during the summer of 1996. Scary and sad. I\'m aking people to pray for all involved.
I gradutated in 1992 and I absolutely in shock. I grew up in Dekalb County and my whole family went to NIU. You neve think this can happen at home. God Bless the victims and the survivors.
So many shootings so many dying. I\'ll pray for the victims.
As an NIU Alum and parent of a current NIU student, I am s sad that this happened at NIU. I will be keepin the students and faculty in my prayers as the next few days go by.
Our hearts are with you, as students and journalists. Good job working through this difficult time writing good stories and upholding the best traditions of journalism through this. Tom Robb, the NEIU Independent
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