NIU Shooting leaves five dead

A gunman opened fire with a shotgun and a handgun Thursday afternoon in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, killing 4 people before shooting himself to death, authorities said.

At least 18 people, including students and a professor, have been injured. Three fatalities have been reported, although details are sketchy.

Police officers were called at 3 p.m. to the NIU campus in response to a call that there was a gunman on campus. The campus has been locked down.

One student said that a young white male had pulled out a 12-gauge shotgun and started shooting in Cole Hall.

Several news reports have stated that the gunman has been apprehended but DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott, in a chicagotribune.com article, says that the gunman may have taken his own life.

Last semester, NIU's finals had been canceled and the campus closed for a day after a threat referencing the Virginia Tech's massacre was found written on a wall.

Classes are cancelled through tonight and tomorrow.

Source: neiuindependent News