The Latest: Oregon college had unarmed officer, ex-head says

The Associated Press
The Associated Press

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — The latest on the deadly shooting Thursday at a community college in Oregon (all times local):

1:05 p.m.

The former president of an Oregon community college where a gunman opened fire, killing at least seven people, says the school has only one security officer on duty at a time, and that person isn’t armed.

Joe Olson retired in June from his position as president of Umpqua (UMP’-kwah) Community College in Roseburg.

He says last year, one of the biggest debates on campus was whether the school should have armed security officers. He says the college had three training exercises with local law agencies in the past two years, “but you can never be prepared for something like this.”

Olson says he suspects Thursday’s shooting will start a discussion across the country about how community colleges prepare for something like this.

Authorities say the gunman killed at least seven people and injured at least 20 others.

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12:50 p.m.

The White House says President Barack Obama has been briefed by his homeland security adviser on a deadly mass shooting at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon.

At the president’s request, he’ll continue to receive updates throughout the day.

Authorities say the shooting Thursday at Umpqua (UMP’-kwah) Community College killed at least seven people and injured at least 20 others.

A Douglas County sheriff’s spokeswoman says the threat has subsided, but she declined to say whether the gunman was taken into custody or killed.

The sheriff’s office says students and faculty members were being bused to the county fairgrounds.

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley says he’s “absolutely heartbroken” about the shooting. Merkley says he’s been in touch with local officials to express his condolences and offer assistance.

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12:40 p.m.

The congressman who represents the southwest Oregon city where a mass shooting happened at a community college says the incident is a “heartbreaking tragedy.”

Authorities say the shooting Thursday at Umpqua (UMP’-kwah) Community College in Roseburg killed at least seven people and injured at least 20 others.

Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio said in a statement that his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. He also expressed gratitude for the first responders.

DeFazio says once he knows more about what happened, he plans to work with his colleagues in Congress to find ways to prevent such tragedies.

Andrea Zielinski, spokeswoman for Douglas County Sheriff’s office, says the threat at the college has subsided. However, she wouldn’t say whether the gunman was taken into custody or was killed.

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12:30 p.m.

A sheriff’s spokesman says the threat has subsided following a mass shooting at a southwest Oregon community college.

Authorities say the shooting Thursday at Umpqua (UMP’-kwah) Community College in Roseburg killed at least seven people and injured at least 20 more.

Andrea Zielinski, spokeswoman for Douglas County Sheriff’s office, says there’s “no more threat.” However, she wouldn’t say whether that meant the shooter had been arrested or was killed.

Roseburg is about 180 miles south of Portland.

Umpqua Community College has about 3,000 students. Its website was down Thursday, and a phone message left at the school wasn’t immediately returned.

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12:15 p.m.

Authorities say at least seven people are dead and 20 others are injured after a shooting at a southwest Oregon community college.

The shooting happened at Umpqua (UMP’-kwah) Community College in Roseburg, about 180 miles south of Portland.

State Police Lt. Bill Fugate tells KATU-TV that seven to 10 people were killed and at least 20 others were injured.

A photographer for the Roseburg News-Review newspaper says he saw people being loaded into multiple ambulances and taken to a local hospital.

Umpqua Community College has about 3,000 students. Its website was down Thursday, and a phone message left at the school wasn’t immediately returned.

The Oregon State Police and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office also didn’t immediately returned calls from The Associated Press seeking additional details.

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11:35 a.m.

Authorities are reporting multiple casualties in a shooting at a community college in southwestern Oregon.

In a tweet Thursday, the local fire district advised people to stay away from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. The city is about 180 miles south of Portland.

The fire district later reported there were multiple casualties but released no further details.

Umpqua Community College has about 3,000 students. Its website was down Thursday, and a phone message left at the school wasn’t immediately returned.

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11:30 a.m.

Authorities are responding to a report of an active shooter at a community college in southwestern Oregon.

In a tweet Thursday, the local fire district advised people to stay away from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. The city is about 180 miles south of Portland.

Umpqua Community College has about 3,000 students. Its website was down Thursday, and a phone message left at the school wasn’t immediately returned.

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