I just deleted what I'd written because I think it'* more meant for a personal blog. Even those of us in the area who haven't been directly affected have been heavily affected indirectly.

Everyone here'* in my thoughts right now. My friends and family are all okay.

20 minutes south of campus
my neighbor happened to go with her friends out to eat for a bit and they
came back and saw all the emergency vehicles and went WTF
but ya its effed up
why someone would want to walk into a room fireing rounds at people who are helpless
will blow my mind for ever
:?

7 dead including the gunman. The gunman wasn't even a student. Unreal.

Gunman was a former student, currently enrolled in University of Illinois.

Thanks for relaying my post here DR.

The story is slightly different each time I hear it. Last I checked the gunman was a student at to NIU and was doing graduate social group work at U of I. Police found a U of I ID card in his body.

I'm wearing my NIU shirt and ballcap today in remembrance of those who lost their lives and everyone affected. I may try to go to campus tonight after work to check things out and pay respects, but I don't want to intrude on those grieving.

it is just so upseting that someone could think to kill another person :?
what is this world coming too

The stories are conflicting as the details come together. This morning foxnews.com reported he had no affiliations to NIU.

i just WONT BELIEVE what this world is turning into
and it is all happening so fast.............................................. .................................................. ..........
:?

They released the identity of the gunman:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/popup?id=42...Index=1&page=3

Stopped taking his meds...yup, sounds like the usual run on these kind of things...