Northern Illinois University Shooting

[whitey]

I didn't see a thread about this, but I'm sure most have heard that today another tragic school shooting took place in DeKalb, Illinois at Northern Illinois University. 5 innocent kids are dead, and several more are fighting for their lives at this very moment. Students are stunned and families are forever changed.
I graduated from this great school in 2002 and am sickened to think that something like this could have happened here. Why there is such scum trash in this world that feels their problems are too difficult to overcome and feel the need to ruin innocent peoples' lives is something I'll never understand.
I have many friends who still attend the University. Luckily, none of them were hurt. My wife is an elementary teacher, and it makes me want to puke, knowing that this type of crap can happen anywhere now-a-days.
By tomorrow, the gunman's photo will undoubtedly be released to the media, and I wish so badly that it would not be. This waste of a life, who is now spending his first night burning in Hell should not be observed.
I felt the same way last year with Virginia Tech, and now that it has happened so close to home I can't get the lump out of my throat.
I appologize for my rant, but I am so mad. This is my school, and I'm proud to be Alumni of NIU. These school shootings are disgusting. I'd ask everyone to keep the families whose lives have been changed forever this Valentine's Day in your thoughts and prayers. Tomorrow I will be wearing my Huskie red proud.

 

[nyyankeees]

My bestest(if that's a word?) friend in the whole world, graduated from Northern in 2006. God, I don't even want to imagine life without him. Even though he wasn't a student at the school anymore, it just really puts into perspective how precious life is and how everything can change in an instant! I understand your hurt and anger, it's very appropriate, believe me. So horrible and senseless. Once again(and surely not the last time) Americans everywhere are asking themselves WHY??

 

[lovethesea]

OR you can look as recently as here http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...A?OpenDocument
this IS where I was born and raised and is only a few miles from where I am bringing up my children.
I knew some of these dedicated people who perished and indirectly knew the others. This town is a town where everyone "somehow" knows everyone......Heck, the gunmans father was the Coach at my highschool and Cookie himself went to my highschool and graduated several years before me.
I agree...this is becoming sickening. Cookie decided that he was not going to let go of this. He had almost $200,000 in tax liens (U.S. Govn't tax liens) for his defunct businesses and over $60,000 in tickets from his city for non complicance. The city tried to work with him and he chose to murder. He personally was quoted "I can't let it go". He chose to break the law and felt to blame it on something else.
What do we tell our children and better yet........how do we protect them????

 

[anubisxero]

I live in Rockford and i'm often times in dekalb. I have plenty of friends that attend school there and one of them was just there an hour before the shooting happened. I thank god that she wasn't around, I can't even imagine if anything had happened to her. It makes me sick to see this crap, it made me sick to see the Virginia Tech shooting. Just like everyone else has said, you never imagine this in your own backyard. =/ I pray for everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.
Jason

 

[peachie98]

You definitely don't think this will ever happen to those you know/where you live! I was employed at NIU before taking the job here in Florida...lived in DeKalb and many of my friends went there. I feel for all those that this has affected!

 

[nyyankeees]

Originally Posted by Whitey
http:///forum/post/2472432
By tomorrow, the gunman's photo will undoubtedly be released to the media, and I wish so badly that it would not be. This waste of a life, who is now spending his first night burning in Hell should not be observed.
Well, you're right and he's got psychotic written all over his face. I can't even look at his pic without literally feeling sick to my stomach. At least he did us all a favor and shot himself after he ruined thousands of lives!

 

[jennythebugg]

Originally Posted by NYyankeees
http:///forum/post/2473099
Well, you're right and he's got psychotic written all over his face. I can't even look at his pic without literally feeling sick to my stomach. At least he did us all a favor and shot himself after he ruined thousands of lives!
here here ! i will never understand why these shooters usually end up in schools ???? whats the importance there ? take down the country too by killing only educated people? i wish for once that a shooter would find himself in a crackhouse instead of a school . i feel terrible for the families of these kids i can't imagine what they are going through right now

 

[wangotango]

I heard that he was a good student

All of these recent shootings are making me even more excited to go to college.
-Justin

 

[oscardeuce]

Another "gun free zone" working to perfection.
My prayers to those involved.

 

[lovethesea]

PLUS I personally feel that the press should not keep showing his pic and bringing up his life. I feel like these psycho's somehow feel in their psychotic states that they will be glorified/vilified......and their murderous rampages will bring out the truth/story.

 

[sciknen]

gun free zones are a joke(not enforced)
and so arent campus secruity
im in college
the only thing campus secruity are only good to watch parkin lots
the 1st step is to get armed guards
not like m16 just pistols
i think this mite deter alot of psychos
if not the gaurd can put him down b4 he kills alot of innocent people
everyschool highschool and college shud be required to have atleast one armed guard

 

[jon321]

Originally Posted by lovethesea
http:///forum/post/2473557
PLUS I personally feel that the press should not keep showing his pic and bringing up his life. I feel like these psycho's somehow feel in their psychotic states that they will be glorified/vilified......and their murderous rampages will bring out the truth/story.

Exactly. Theres already an extensive and detailed wiki on him in less than 2 days! I also hate how they try and find excuses for this type of behavior...when you shoot people, noone cares if your stressed out, your bf/gf brokeup with you, or you stopped taking your medication. Theres too much sympathy in our society for perps. Instead of trying to legitimize why they felt the need to take human life, we should just accept that some people are sick, twisted, horrible individuals and leave it at that.
Jon

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by sciknen
http:///forum/post/2474314
gun free zones are a joke(not enforced)
and so arent campus secruity
im in college
the only thing campus secruity are only good to watch parkin lots
the 1st step is to get armed guards
not like m16 just pistols
i think this mite deter alot of psychos
if not the gaurd can put him down b4 he kills alot of innocent people
everyschool highschool and college shud be required to have atleast one armed guard
The school in question had armed police.
Unless every class has an officer every hour of every day you can't expect police to stop a 2 minute shooting spree.

 

[salty blues]

Five words: Allow concealed carry on campus.

 

[whitey]

I didn't start this thread to have it turn into a Gun debate. Start a new topic if you must, but there are families suffering right now from this tragedy, and this thread was to request thoughts and prayers.
We have had many vigils since Thursday and this University will bounce back stronger. I was proud of this school before, but this event has made me even more proud to be a graduate of NIU. Everyone in this area has come together and the support for these kids has been tremondous. I'm glad the media coverage is slowing, as I think it only promotes future occurences. These troubled kids see the attention it gets, and like others have said, makes them feel like they can be history makers by ruining lives. I wish they would never release the photos of these cowards. They should be given zero attention, because they are worthless.

 

[grabbitt]

I know this thread is a bit retired, but I just spoke to a very close friend of mine over the phone, as it is his first time getting to really talk to anyone about what happened.
This friend of mine transferred out of Purdue University last year and is currently a student at NIU.
He was shot that day in the auditorium.
Hearing him describe just what happened and what he felt while everything was going down was like a nightmare produced by the devil himself.
I am so thankful that he was not one of the five students that died.
In his own specific situation, he was trying to move further back into the auditorium for cover when he was shot in the back. The bullet went straight through, collapsing one of his lungs, and exited his chest.
It's surreal looking back at this and realizing how easily this situation could be flipped or replayed, leaving you to be one of the undeserving victims. I am SO SICK AND TIRED OF THESE COWARDS attempting to make themselves some sort of martyr amongst their fellow ignominous souls. My thoughts and prayers are with all others who were unfortunate enough to be in that room alongside my friend.
This needs to stop. An academic campus is no place for a world like this.

 

[nyyankeees]

I agree!! Makes me kind of scared to be in college as an education major, fortunately I will be teaching grades PK-3rd and not many of these situations arise in those grade levels. That is, if I make it to graduation alive.

 

[whitey]

Originally Posted by GRabbitt
http:///forum/post/2484782
I know this thread is a bit retired, but I just spoke to a very close friend of mine over the phone, as it is his first time getting to really talk to anyone about what happened.
This friend of mine transferred out of Purdue University last year and is currently a student at NIU.
He was shot that day in the auditorium.
Hearing him describe just what happened and what he felt while everything was going down was like a nightmare produced by the devil himself.
I am so thankful that he was not one of the five students that died.
In his own specific situation, he was trying to move further back into the auditorium for cover when he was shot in the back. The bullet went straight through, collapsing one of his lungs, and exited his chest.
It's surreal looking back at this and realizing how easily this situation could be flipped or replayed, leaving you to be one of the undeserving victims. I am SO SICK AND TIRED OF THESE COWARDS attempting to make themselves some sort of martyr amongst their fellow ignominous souls. My thoughts and prayers are with all others who were unfortunate enough to be in that room alongside my friend.
This needs to stop. An academic campus is no place for a world like this.

Sorry to hear about your friend. I'm glad he's okay.
There is a huge Memorial service Sunday night on campus, that my wife and I will be attending with a few friends who are also alumni. It will be interesting to see what the vibe is on campus as most the students are just going back this weekend.