³ÉÈËXÕ¾

SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Don’t read too much into Oregon shooter’s request

Oct 1, 2015, 5:10 PM | Updated: Oct 2, 2015, 5:38 am

Friends and family wait for students at the local fairgrounds after a deadly shooting at Umpqua Com...

Friends and family wait for students at the local fairgrounds after a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College, in Roseburg, Ore. on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

(AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

A 26-year-old man made a request before shooting students at an Oregon community college: state your religion.

Chris Harper Mercer killed at least nine people before he was killed in a shootout with police at Umpqua Community College in Roseberg, Ore. on Thursday.

The request by the shooter can be taken many ways, but ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dori Monson warns people not to read too much into it. One of the Columbine High School shooters, for example, asked similar questions.

Related: Is the father to blame in the wake of this tragedy?

“It doesn’t mean there was any religious connection in any way,” Dori explained. “I just want to caution people: don’t read anything more into that than is there.”

But as of Thursday evening, there wasn’t much more information than the shooter’s age and how students described the scene, including the statement he made before opening fire.

Dori says he is sick of the gun debate that is already heating back up, even in his email inbox. The school has one security officer on duty and that person isn’t armed. Even if that officer was armed &#8212 even if there was more than one armed officer &#8212 it probably wouldn’t have made a difference, Dori says.

“The gun shots lasted for one minute,” Dori explained. “If that armed guard is almost a minute away, it changes absolutely nothing.”

The story line about the shooting will quickly change from what happened to who the shooter is, Dori says. He will either be a lone wolf, or someone connected to something more nefarious. Those stories, whether people like them or not, will happen. However, what really matters are the families involved.

“I keep thinking about those families…who are finding out the worst possible news anyone can endure,” Dori said.

A total of nine people were killed and another seven injured, according to Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin. Three of those injured were in critical condition.

Seattle News Archives & Features

Associated Press

Seattle man charged with string of burglaries at the homes of NFL and MLB stars

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle man was charged Friday with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent current and former football and baseball players, marking the latest example of well-known athletes being targeted in home thefts. Earl Henderson Riley IV, 21, was charged with several counts of residential burglary in both occupied and […]

24 days ago

Associated Press

Campgrounds closed along Pacific Crest Trail in search for man wanted in daughters’ deaths

SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities have closed a wide swath of popular campgrounds and backpacking areas along the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington as they search for a former Army soldier wanted in the deaths of his three young daughters. Dozens of additional law enforcement officers from an array of agencies joined the investigation and search […]

24 days ago

In this undated photo released by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, a cache of military weaponr...

Associated Press

2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say

SEATTLE (AP) — Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say. Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday […]

26 days ago

Associated Press

Authorities are searching for a Washington state father of 3 dead girls

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state father is wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Police on Tuesday asked the public for help in finding the father of the girls, Travis Decker, 32. He is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, the Wenatchee Police […]

27 days ago

Expand Autoplay Image3 of 5 Burien car crashes through home Burien car crashes through home (photo:...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

Driver sails through Burien homes after launching off curb, officials say

A driver crashed into two Burien homes Monday afternoon causing significant damage.

1 month ago

Associated Press

1 person was rescued and a search is underway for 3 others after a boat sinks north of Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — One person was rescued by a good Samaritan and authorities were looking for three others after a boat took on water and sank in waters north of Seattle, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew and helicopter searched for the missing alongside Everett firefighters and police, the […]

1 month ago

Don’t read too much into Oregon shooter’s request