News article 17

Oregon shooting: Gunman was student in class where he killed 9

The man identified as Chris Mercer who gunned down nine people at an Oregon community college was enrolled in the class where the fatal shootings occurred, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said Friday.

Investigators found 13 firearms connected to shooter, Celinez Nunez of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said:

"Five pistols and one rifle were found at the college, where the shooter died Thursday after a gunbattle with police", Nunez told reporters.

Police searched his apartment and found two pistols, four rifles and a shotgun, she said.

"All the guns were legally obtained by the shooter or family members over the last three years through a federally licensed firearms dealer, she said. A flak jacket was found next to a rifle at the school with five magazines of ammunition", Nunez said, "and additional ammunition was found at the residence."

Authorities are not providing a motive for America's latest mass killing. The gunman went to the college in rural south Oregon heavily armed and wearing body armour, authorities’ said. Two of the people killed were members of the local EMS and fire department "family," Douglas County Fire District No. 2 Chief Greg Marlar said. Sen. Jeff Merkley said one of his cousins was killed at the school. "This is a small town and everyone is affected," he said.

Stacy Boylan, the father of Anastasia Boylan, who was wounded, said she told him the gunman singled out Christians.

She said the gunman entered her classroom firing, told the professor teaching the class, "I've been waiting to do this for years," and shot him point blank, Stacy Boylan said. "While reloading his handgun, the man ordered the students to stand up and asked whether they were Christians", Boylan told her family.

"And they would stand up, and he said, 'Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second,' "Stacy Boylan told CNN, relaying his daughter's account. "And then he shot and killed them."

In my opinion I just can’t believe another terrible college shooting has occurred. When events like this happen it really makes me annoyed that America have not yet changed their gun laws, there is always talk about the change but the change has no yet commenced. The problem with everyone having a right to bear arms is that some people use this law for bad things to happen such as this event and nothing can stop it. I feel great sympathy for all the victims of this crime and their families both young and old. R.I.P.