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Gunman killed in Oregon college shooting

Posted at 9:45 PM, Oct 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-01 22:45:11-04

ROSEBURG, Oregon (AP) -- Authorities say the man who opened fire on an Oregon community college campus is dead.

A government official said 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer died Thursday after exchanging gunfire with responding officers.

Mercer's neighbor, Bronte Hart, describes him as "really unfriendly" and says a woman believed to be his mother was "crying her eyes out" Thursday.

Ten people were killed and seven injured at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

An Oregon sheriff praised law enforcement officers for their heroic actions in the shooting. Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin says at least two officers responded to the rampage within minutes. 

President Barrack Obama addressed the college shooting deaths and said the U.S. is becoming numb to mass shootings, and that perpetrators have sickness in their minds.

He also said he hopes he does not have to come out again in his tenure as President to offer condolence to families of people killed in mass shootings. 

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 Roseburg community will gather for a candlelight vigil in a local park this evening.