Gunman Slays Five in Illinois at University, Deadly Shooting at Northern Illinois

Gunman Slays Five in Illinois at a University Deadly Shooting at Northern Illinois - The New York Ti

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008...

Police officers from the campus, which is 65 miles due west of Chicago, said three weapons had been found with the man’s body: two handguns, including a Glock, and the shotgun.Photo: Eric Sumberg/daily-chronicle.com, via Associated PressrelatedArticle: Gunman Slays Five in Illinois at a University

This completely freaks me out. I can't count how many kids we've known go to NIU over the years, how many older siblings of my son go there now. My younger son performed there--right there in Cole Hall with his community choir a couple of years ago; I chaperoned. People commute from here to there all the time. We know this University.

We've got a stack of mail in the kitchen from colleges all around the country including Northern, as younger son is a sophomore and though he wishes "he could go back in time and slap himself before he gave them his email" addy and home address it doesn't change the fact that this hits so very close to home. I don't feel sorry for myself. I'm just struck by how kids can be doing exactly what their supposed to do--listening to a lecture, and then a nut job--with handguns--shoots them to pieces.

I'm just so sad right now for those dead and wounded kids, their parents, their family members, their friends, and for the survivors who witnessed the bloodbath. For the little town of DeKalb in which this University resides. If you care to, please keep a good thought for them.