Thursday, February 14, 2008

Shooting at Northern Illinois University



Four students died (now updated to six) and thirteen were wounded today when a gunman unleashed a hail of bullets in Cole Hall at Northern Illinois University. News reports say that the gunman jumped on the stage and began shooting the students from there. He turned the gun on himself a few minutes later.

This hits especially close to home because I have many friends and professors from NIU. I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1987 and 1989. Every year, I return to campus to speak to a class taught by Dr. Ouellette. In December of last year, just a week after I was there, the campus was closed due to a threat found in a washroom.

My heart goes out to the families of the students who died and the students and professor who were wounded.

BlogHer Post on NIU

8 comments:

Deaf Pixie said...

Our heart to pray for their love friend, family and relatives.

Pour our heart to their family need some of closure to their one of daughter or sons.

Margaret aka Deaf Pixie

Unknown said...

I believe it is now up to 7. I thought of you when I heard this is from Illinois.

Hugs.

Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen,

You do not know me and I do not know you. I just wanted to leave a comment on your blog. What first came in my mind, Oh no - NOT AGAIN like it was at VA TECH. (Sigh with deep breath) My heart and prayers are with them as well.

Ms. Katrina

Laurie said...

Karen,

This is so tragic. And unnecessary. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those connected in some way.

Our son goes to VA Tech and was in the next building when the tragic shooting happened there. He alerted me before it hit the news. He and his friends have been impacted FOREVER by this. Seems like there are shootings every day anymore. . .in grocery stores, malls, schools, etc. When will it stop?

Laurie

Anonymous said...

I went to NIU also and graduated in '94. I took many classes in Cole Hall and its so scary to see it flashed all over TV as a crime scene.

My heart goes out to all the victims of this tragedy and also the father of the perpetrator whom the media has hounded.

---Sange

Lisa K. said...

I actually live in DeKalb. My daughter is hearing impaired and attends speech therapy there once a week. We use a therapist and a grad student there.

Let me tell you....I feel so bad for the students, professors and administrators.

Being a parent I am kind of scared about returning with my child
but I know we have to do it. My prayers are with them.

Lisa

Unknown said...

My son and his wife both obtained their Masters degrees at NIU. and I lived in DeKalb for 7 years prior to moving to Europe,yes we got the news on the Dutch tv and radio it was all over Europe actually,, I watched the news on BBC and it was heart breaking ..
My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims.
What is the world coming to ???

Jodi

Anonymous said...

I used to work at the hospital in Dekalb. I was stunned by this...I just wonder if we will ever know what snaps in some folks.

If we can have a warning system for something as complex as a tornado, we should be able to figure this out.

So sad.