Oregon town reels from mass shooting
Leaders say now is not the time to debate guns.
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Chris Harper Mercer was armed with six legally purchased guns, extra ammunition and a flak jacket when he launched his deadly attack on Umpqua Community College — and had left seven other weapons at his home, officials said Friday.
Five handguns and a rifle were recovered at the school and two more handguns, four rifles and a shotgun were found in his apartment, said Celinez Nunez, assistant special agent in charge of the Seattle field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“We also were able to recover a flak jacket lying next to the rifle at the school,” Nunez said. “The jacket had steel plates, along with five magazines. An additional amount of ammunition was also recovered at the apartment.”
The shooting was the latest in a string of attacks at schools and colleges that have left scores dead.
Ten people, including the gunman, died in Thursday’s attack at Umpqua and at least nine people were wounded, officials said.
Mercer, 26, stormed Snyder Hall about 10:30 a.m. As shots erupted, students cowered in their classrooms and frantically called 911.
Mercer was killed in a gunfight with sheriff’s deputies.
At a news briefing Friday, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin refused to use the gunman’s name, saying he did not want to “glorify” the man whose actions have stunned the timber community 180 miles south of Portland.
But two law enforcement sources say they found evidence that the gunman had white supremacist, antigovernment and anti-religious leanings, and that he left a “hate-filled” note. Hanlin said he was enrolled in the class he targeted at UCC. Witnesses have said he asked students if they were Christian, and those who said, “yes,” were killed, while others were shot in the legs.
Amid national calls for tighter gun control laws, Hanlin has been firm in his opposition. He had spoken out against gun control legislation last year, telling a state legislative committee that mandating background checks for private, personto-person gun sales would not prevent criminals from getting firearms.
Hanlin also sent a letter to Vice President Joe Biden after the 2012 shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.
Hanlin said he and his deputies would refuse to enforce new gun control restrictions “offending the constitutional rights of my citizens.”
On Friday, Hanlin said he hasn’t changed his position on gun control, but refused to discuss any details.
“My focus right now is on getting this investigation completed,” he told reporters.
In Washington, President Barack Obama bemoaned the political divide that prevented stricter gun laws and said he would continue pushing for change.
“The main thing that I’m going to do is, I’m going to talk about this,” Obama said, reiterating his vow to “politicize” the issue. Obama said gun control proponents must be as aggressive as those on the other side of the issue.
The shooting has ripped the heart out of this rural community of about 22,000. The college said it would remain closed through next week.
“All of Oregon stands with Umpqua Community College and Roseburg,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said.
Brown, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Peter DeFazio praised the town for coming together to help the victims.
Mass shootings are “going to keep happening until we decide it will stop,” Brown said. “This is a conversation we will have,” she said of gun control laws. “But today is not the day.”
Friday was the day to mourn the dead, who were identified as Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Quinn Cooper, 18; Kim Dietz, 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Johnson, 33; Lawrence Levine, 67; Sarena Dawn Moore, 44; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20; and Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18.
Friday also was time to worry about the injured. At least nine people were taken to the hospital, Dr. Jason Gray, chief medical officer of Mercy Medical Center, told reporters Friday.
“The initial emotions are disbelief,” Gray said. “It’s still very raw.”