Directly from the Facebook group's description ~ On February 14, 2008 just after 3:00pm, a lone unknown gunman entered into a Introduction to Oceanography class in Cole hall near the center of the campus and began shooting with two handguns and one shotgun. While on his rampage the shooter shot a total of 21 people, hospitalizing 16 with gunshot wounds, and killing 5. The death toll has risen to 5 now, including the killer. 5 Students were killed and all 5 students have been identified.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a door to the right rear of the stage slam open and seeing the gunman, wearing a knit cap and sweat shirt, wielding a shotgun. He stayed within 10 feet of the door and started shooting—first with the shotgun and then with the handguns. Witnesses also say that he shot randomly into the crowd and that it didn't look like he was aiming at anyone in particular (Chicago Tribune).
The gunman has been identified as Stephen Kazmierczak. It has been confirmed that he was not a student at the university at the time. He was a graduate of NIU that majored in Sociology.
While attending the college, Kazmierczak was honored and awarded with a dean's award for his work in sociology. It was confirmed that he was attending graduate school at University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign; the same town where he purchased his weapons.
Vigils have been gathering together all over the country to pray for the victims and their families.
Do join the Facebook Group or any of the many social networks out there on this tragedy.
