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Oregon gunman Chris Harper-Mercer 'supported IRA' Oregon gunman Chris Harper-Mercer 'supported IRA'
(34 minutes later)
Oregon college gunman Chris Harper-Mercer was reportedly born in the UK, posed with a gun in a photograph online and appears to have posted material showing support for the Irish Republican Army (IRA).Oregon college gunman Chris Harper-Mercer was reportedly born in the UK, posed with a gun in a photograph online and appears to have posted material showing support for the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
The 26-year-old lived with his mother a few miles away from Umpqua Community College, where he opened fire on Thursday morning, killing nine people before being killed in a police shootout.The 26-year-old lived with his mother a few miles away from Umpqua Community College, where he opened fire on Thursday morning, killing nine people before being killed in a police shootout.
A Myspace page under Mercer's name contains a photograph of a shaven-headed and bespectacled young man holding a gun and another of him wearing a suit and tie.A Myspace page under Mercer's name contains a photograph of a shaven-headed and bespectacled young man holding a gun and another of him wearing a suit and tie.
The Myspace page also contains pictures of masked gunmen, a picture of the front page of the Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht carrying the headline "British Army Could Not Defeat IRA" and a photograph with the words "IRA undefeated army".The Myspace page also contains pictures of masked gunmen, a picture of the front page of the Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht carrying the headline "British Army Could Not Defeat IRA" and a photograph with the words "IRA undefeated army".
In a dating profile apparently belonging to Mercer on the Spiritual Passions website under the username Ironcross45, he said he was "looking for someone who shares my beliefs, and is similar to me".
The non-smoking teetotaller described himself as "shy at first, but [I] warm up quickly, better in small groups".
He listed hobbies including the internet and "killing zombies", described his politics as "conservative, republican" and said he was spiritual but not religious.
Mercer's stepsister Carmen Nesnick said he was born in the UK and moved to the US as a young boy.Mercer's stepsister Carmen Nesnick said he was born in the UK and moved to the US as a young boy.
She told local TV he was a caring person.She told local TV he was a caring person.
``All he ever did was put everyone before himself, he wanted everyone to be happy,'' she said.``All he ever did was put everyone before himself, he wanted everyone to be happy,'' she said.
However, one of Mercer's neighbours in Roseberg, Bronte Harte, said Mercer "seemed really unfriendly" and would "sit by himself in the dark in the balcony with this little light".
In a dating profile apparently belonging to Mercer on the Spiritual Passions website under the username Ironcross45, the non-smoking teetotaller described himself as "shy at first, but [I] warm up quickly, better in small groups".
He listed hobbies including the internet and "killing zombies", described his politics as "conservative, republican" and said he was spiritual but not religious.
Before moving to Oregon, Mercer and his mother lived for several years in a housing complex in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance.Before moving to Oregon, Mercer and his mother lived for several years in a housing complex in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance.
Former neighbours said he was someone who kept himself to himself.Former neighbours said he was someone who kept himself to himself.
One neighbour, David Westly, said Mercer had told him his mother went shooting at a range and added that he had seen Mercer and his mother leaving and returning to the apartment with what looked like gun cases.One neighbour, David Westly, said Mercer had told him his mother went shooting at a range and added that he had seen Mercer and his mother leaving and returning to the apartment with what looked like gun cases.
A local newspaper in Torrance, the Daily Breeze, claimed that Mercer had attended a school for teenagers with behavioural problems.A local newspaper in Torrance, the Daily Breeze, claimed that Mercer had attended a school for teenagers with behavioural problems.
The paper said its own published lists of graduating students showed Mercer attended a school called the Switzer Center, which specialises in teaching students with special needs and behavioural issues.The paper said its own published lists of graduating students showed Mercer attended a school called the Switzer Center, which specialises in teaching students with special needs and behavioural issues.