This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34450062
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Oregon community college gunman 'left behind manifesto' | Oregon community college gunman 'left behind manifesto' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The man accused of killing nine people at a community college in Oregon left behind a manifesto detailing his grievances, US media report. | The man accused of killing nine people at a community college in Oregon left behind a manifesto detailing his grievances, US media report. |
Chris Harper Mercer opened fire on Thursday inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College and then killed himself when police arrived. | Chris Harper Mercer opened fire on Thursday inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College and then killed himself when police arrived. |
A police source told the Associated Press that Mercer complained in the document about not having a girlfriend. | A police source told the Associated Press that Mercer complained in the document about not having a girlfriend. |
He also wrote that everyone else was "crazy" and that he was the sane one. | He also wrote that everyone else was "crazy" and that he was the sane one. |
Meanwhile President Barack Obama announced on Monday that he would travel to Roseburg, Oregon, on Friday to visit survivors and relatives of the victims. | Meanwhile President Barack Obama announced on Monday that he would travel to Roseburg, Oregon, on Friday to visit survivors and relatives of the victims. |
The 26-year-old Mercer lived with his mother, Laurel Margaret Harper, in an apartment a few miles from the college. | The 26-year-old Mercer lived with his mother, Laurel Margaret Harper, in an apartment a few miles from the college. |
Police have interviewed Ms Harper and she told them that Mercer had been suffering from mental problems. | Police have interviewed Ms Harper and she told them that Mercer had been suffering from mental problems. |
Ms Harper, a nurse, posted on websites over past several years about the difficulties of having a son with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. | Ms Harper, a nurse, posted on websites over past several years about the difficulties of having a son with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. |
Mercer had been discharged from the US Army in 2008 after failing to complete basic training. According to online postings, he had been in search of a girlfriend. | Mercer had been discharged from the US Army in 2008 after failing to complete basic training. According to online postings, he had been in search of a girlfriend. |
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". | 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". |
Survivors had previously suggested that Mercer had left a message for police. | Survivors had previously suggested that Mercer had left a message for police. |
Summer Smith, the mother of one of the survivors, said Mercer singled out her son, Matthew, and decided not to kill him. | |
"The shooter asked him to give the police something, and that if he did, he would live," Ms Smith told CNN on Monday. | "The shooter asked him to give the police something, and that if he did, he would live," Ms Smith told CNN on Monday. |
Ms Smith said Matthew was handed an envelope, with what appeared to be a thumb-size computer hard drive inside. | Ms Smith said Matthew was handed an envelope, with what appeared to be a thumb-size computer hard drive inside. |
He then was forced to watch as Mercer shot and killed his classmates, Ms Smith said. | He then was forced to watch as Mercer shot and killed his classmates, Ms Smith said. |
"Mathew said that he froze. He didn't make a single move. He was afraid to look away," she told CNN. | "Mathew said that he froze. He didn't make a single move. He was afraid to look away," she told CNN. |