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| US university gunman kills five | US university gunman kills five |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, killing five people before turning the gun on himself, police say. | A gunman has opened fire on students at a university near Chicago in the United States, killing five people before turning the gun on himself, police say. |
| The shooting took place at Northern Illinois University, in De Kalb, 65 miles (100km) west of Chicago. | The shooting took place at Northern Illinois University, in De Kalb, 65 miles (100km) west of Chicago. |
| Students ran for cover as a white male armed with two handguns and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. | Students ran for cover as a white male armed with two handguns and a shotgun opened fire in a lecture theatre. |
| Police said he had shot himself before they arrived on the scene and that there was no apparent motive. | Police said he had shot himself before they arrived on the scene and that there was no apparent motive. |
| Two weapons have been recovered and police are searching for a third firearm in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus. | Two weapons have been recovered and police are searching for a third firearm in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place for the 25,000 students on campus. |
| The victims, four women and a man, were killed in a "brief, rapid-fire assault", university president John Peters said. | The victims, four women and a man, were killed in a "brief, rapid-fire assault", university president John Peters said. |
| Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George Gaynorstudent | Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg George Gaynorstudent |
| The gunman was believed to be a former graduate student in sociology, but he was not currently enrolled at the university, Mr Peters told a news conference. | |
| Earlier reports said 17 victims had been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, several with serious head wounds. | Earlier reports said 17 victims had been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, several with serious head wounds. |
| The shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were shot by a student at Virginia Tech University in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school. | The shooting comes 10 months after 32 students and staff were shot by a student at Virginia Tech University in one of the worst shootings ever at a US school. |
| It is also the fourth shooting at a US education establishment within a week. | It is also the fourth shooting at a US education establishment within a week. |
| Last Friday, a woman shot dead two fellow students before killing herself at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Memphis, Tennessee, a 17-year-old is accused of shooting and critically wounding a student on Monday, and a 15-year-old was shot at a junior high school in California on Tuesday. | Last Friday, a woman shot dead two fellow students before killing herself at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Memphis, Tennessee, a 17-year-old is accused of shooting and critically wounding a student on Monday, and a 15-year-old was shot at a junior high school in California on Tuesday. |
| Terrifying | Terrifying |
| A student named John told local radio station WBBM that the gunman entered a lecture theatre and began firing a shotgun on the more than 100 students inside. | A student named John told local radio station WBBM that the gunman entered a lecture theatre and began firing a shotgun on the more than 100 students inside. |
| The emergency services were at the scene within minutes | The emergency services were at the scene within minutes |
| "He pointed it into the middle of the class... then he went for the teacher," John said. | "He pointed it into the middle of the class... then he went for the teacher," John said. |
| George Gaynor, a senior geography student, told the student newspaper that the gunman was "a skinny white guy with a stocking cap on". | George Gaynor, a senior geography student, told the student newspaper that the gunman was "a skinny white guy with a stocking cap on". |
| He described the scene immediately following the incident as terrifying and chaotic. | 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," he said. | "Some girl got hit in the eye, a guy got hit in the leg," he said. |
| The university's website first issued alerts, warning of the possibility of a gunman on campus. | The university's website first issued alerts, warning of the possibility of a gunman on campus. |
| "Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear," it warned students. | "Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear," it warned students. |
| The site then carried updates confirming the shooting and telling students to stay away or stay in doors. It then said the gunman was "no longer a threat". | The site then carried updates confirming the shooting and telling students to stay away or stay in doors. It then said the gunman was "no longer a threat". |
| Emergency hotlines and counselling are being offered for students and parents. | Emergency hotlines and counselling are being offered for students and parents. |
| Are you in the area? Do you have any friends or family at the university? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in the area? Do you have any friends or family at the university? Send us your comments using the form below |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |