Thirteen people were killed and as many as 20 were wounded Thursday in a shooting at a small community college in Roseburg, Oregon, according to multiple reports.
Sheriff John Handlin said at a press conference Thursday afternoon that officers had “neutralized” the shooter, who was male, during an exchange of gunfire in a campus building at Umpqua Community College.
The shooter is now deceased, Handlin said. He declined to specify how many people were killed and wounded.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) said during a separate news conference that the shooter was 20 years old.
Several media reports on Thursday afternoon indicated that before opening fire, the gunman ordered students onto the ground and asked them to identify their religion, according to an 18-year-old student who witnessed the shooting. The New York Times cited the student’s account of events in a post that was later taken down.
“Today in southern Oregon is not a good afternoon,” Handlin said. “It’s been a terrible day.”
“This is a small community,” the sheriff added. “A lot of our friends and family attend this college. I personally know a number of people I work with that had very strong concerns about the welfare for loved ones going to school there.”
Students were being transported to a nearby fairground, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement continues to search buildings and cars on campus, Handlin said.
Nearby Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg said that it has received 10 patients from the shooting.
Three additional victims were taken to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, about an hour north of the site of the shooting. The hospital said the victims were all female and between the ages of 18 and 34.
Students, staff and faculty are evacuated from campus after Thursday’s deadly shooting.
A patient is wheeled into the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center following the shooting.The campus, located about 70 miles south of Eugene, was reportedly on lockdown after 10:45 a.m Pacific time. The shooting took place in classrooms in Snyder Hall, according to CNN.
Umpqua Community College is an 100-acre campus located on the North Umpqua River. Handlin noted in Thursday’s press conference that the school is the only higher education facility in Douglas County. Umpqua’s website crashed following the shooting.
Shots fired on UCC campus. Lock down and do not come to campus until further notice.
— John Blackwood (@jblackwooducc) October 1, 2015
Umpqua Community College student tells @FoxNews many are hiding in rooms, haven't heard from anyone outside. #UCCShooting
— Fox5NY (@fox5ny) October 1, 2015
President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation by Lisa Monaco, his homeland security adviser, according to a White House official, and will continue to receive updates throughout the day.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, the incident is the 45th shooting at a school so far this year.
