Breaking News: At Least 2 People Shot at NIU

Several People Reported Shot at Northern Illinois University
Thursday, February 14, 2008


A gunman opened fire Thursday afternoon on the campus of Northern Illinois University, wounding as many as 15 people and possibly killing himself, authorities said.

The campus newspaper, Northern Star, has reported the gunman is dead, and DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott described the gunman's death as a possible suicide, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"The gunman is no longer a threat," the university said in a notice posted on its Web site at 4:14 p.m. CT. "The DeKalb campus is closed tomorrow. Students can go to any residence hall for counseling."

A student told FOX News that the shooting occurred in Cole Hall, a building with lecture rooms.

Richie Dalitto, a freshman at Northern Illinois, told FOX News he heard that a student walked into Cole Hall carrying a shotgun, "went absolutely crazy" and fired some shots inside.

The campus is under lockdown with streets blocked off and officers on the scene.

The university is located in DeKalb, Ill., about 65 miles west of Chicago.

Click here for more on this story from MyFOXChicago.com.

FOX News' Marla Cichowski and The Associated Press contributed to this report.



CAMPUS ALERT
2/14/08


5:20 p.m.

Many of the shooting victims have been transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.


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5:12 p.m.

Police are confirming that the shooter is dead by a self-inflicted gunshot.

A press conference will be held in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium at 5:30 p.m.


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4:39 p.m.

A media staging area is available in the auditorium of Altgeld Hall (castle building on east side of campus).


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4:31 p.m.

All NIU students are asked to call their parents as soon as possible.


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4:24 p.m.

Campus police reiterate that an immediate danger has passed. Students should return to their residence halls and stay there. All classes are cancelled and all NIU campuses are closed for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08).


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4:14 p.m.

Campus police report that the immediate danger has passed. The gunman is no longer a threat. The DeKalb campus is closed tomorrow. All NIU classes are cancelled and campuses are closed for tonight and tomorrow. Students can go to any residence hall for counseling.


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4:10 p.m.

Campus police report that the scene is secure. Only essential personnel should remain on campus.

The following hotlines are available for students & parents.

815-753-1573
815-753-6143
815-753-1574
815-753-1575
815-753-9564
815-753-6257
Counseling is also available on campus for students at the Neptune Dining Hall, Campus Life Building 100 and the Psychological Services Center in the Psychology/Computer Science Building. Students may go to any residence hall for counseling.


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3:50 p.m.

It has been confirmed that there has been a shooting on campus and several people have been taken away by ambulance. All NIU campuses are closed and classes are cancelled for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08) on the DeKalb campus. People are urged not to come to campus. More information will be posted as it becomes available.


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3:40 p.m.

All classes on the DeKalb campus are cancelled for tonight. All NIU campuses are closed and all classes are cancelled for tonight and tomorrow (2/15/08).


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3:20 p.m.

There has been a report of a possible gunman on campus. Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear. Avoid the King Commons and all buildings in that vicinity.


http://media.myfoxchicago.com/HTML/live1.html


Injuries Reported in Northern Illinois University Campus Shooting

Last Edited: Thursday, 14 Feb 2008, 4:05 PM CST
Created: Thursday, 14 Feb 2008, 3:28 PM CST

Campus Alert from NIU Website

WFLD


Reports on coming in of a gunman on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. At this point reports say anywhere from one to three people have been shot including the gunman. A campus alert on the NIU website advises anyone at the school to get to a safe place and, "avoid King Commons and all buildings in the vicinity."

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle said there were injuries, citing information heard over a police scanner shortly after 3 p.m. The scanner alerted police about a white, male shooter with a shotgun and pistol.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott confirmed they received “hundreds of calls” reporting shots fired on NIU’s campus beginning about 3:04 p.m. Thursday.

Scott could not confirm that anyone had been shot, but did say shots had been fired on campus.

DeKalb County police were on the scene as of 3:30 p.m. assisting NIU Police, in whose jurisdiction the campus lies. NIU Police were not immediately available for comment.

A DeKalb Fire Department spokeswoman said ambulances were dispached to the campus around 3:05 p.m.