On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, another school shooting rattled America. The massacre took place at Umpqua Community College, located in Roseberg, Oregon.
The gunman, who has been identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, was responsible for murdering nine people, and wounding seven others. Eventually, Mercer was killed in a shootout with police. These tragic events, such as school shootings are becoming more common in America today-- this is very troubling.
So why did he do it? This is the basic question that everyone wonders after a national tragedy occurs. There is no way to know all of Mercer's motives, but we do know who he targeted - Christians.
Anastasia Boylan, a wounded victim, gave a descriptive account to her father of the events that took place. She said that the gunman entered the college classroom, firing bullets, and then proceeded to shoot and kill the professor in the head with a hand gun.
The gunman then turned his focus onto the students. According to Boylan's father in an interview with CNN, Mercer asked students in the class what their religion was, and if they were a Christian. For those who said that they were Christians, he demanded for them to stand up, and then stated, "Good. Because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second." Mercer then proceeded to shoot these students one by one.
Here is the chronology of events that took place (according to The Oregonian):
10:40 a.m.: Officers respond to reports of a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.
11:38 a.m.: Douglas County dispatchers say a suspect has been detained. Number of people wounded could not be confirmed.
11:51 a.m.: Two deceased; 11 transported to hospitals, one on LifeFlight, with another waiting on LifeFlight.
11:57 a.m.: Eugene (OR) news station KVAL reports, "Seven to 10 people are dead and at least 20 people are wounded."
12:13 p.m.: At least six are critically injured. Six helicopters are sent to Roseberg Airport to help transport victims to hospital.
12:44 p.m.: Six patients brought to Mercy Medical Center; two more are expected.
1:21 p.m.: Various news outlets report that 13 are dead.
1:35 p.m.: State officials say that they've unofficially heard the number of fatalities stands at 13; it is not clear if that tally included the shooter.
1:42-1:45 p.m.: Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin says the shooter was a male, and that he is deceased. However, Hanlin cannot confirm a death count yet.
2:32 p.m.: Mercy Medical Center says that they have 10 victims from the shooting.
4:53 p.m.: Sheriff Hanlin confirms that 10 have died, and seven are wounded - three of which are in critical condition.
6:09 p.m.: CBS News reports that 26-year-old, Chris Harper Mercer has been identified as the killer.
The next day, on Oct. 2, 2015, the following was discovered: (1) Mercer was enrolled in the class where the massacre took place. (2) The murdered victims were identified. (3) 13 firearms connected to the shooter were found by investigators (five pistols and one rifle were found at the college; two pistols, four rifles and a shotgun were found in Mercer's apartment).
How did this happen? One of the most mysterious things about this story is exactly how it happened. As the father of Anastasia Boylan remains unsure how this tragedy unfolded.
"How much time do you need? She [his daughter] said he had a hand gun. It wasn't a big rifle, assault rifle or anything like that," Boylin explained. "This was a single hand gun, that he had enough ammunition and enough time to drop the magazine out of it, put another one in, and then continue his thing...How does he have that much time? I don't understand that...how he could kill that many people."
This brings up the questions: What happened to the rest of the students in the class? Were they all traumatized by seeing this horrific act, and they simply didn't know what to do? Why didn't multiple people decide to challenge the gunman? Why would anyone who were asked if they were a Christian, volunteer to stand up directly in front of the gunman?
In fact, there may have been more fatalities if it wasn't for the heroics of 30-year-old military veteran, Chris Mintz. Once the veteran heard gunfire, his first instinct was to try blocking the door that the gunman was entering. The gunman, fired three bullets through the door into Mintz, which dropped him to the ground. After the gunman entered the room, Mintz looked up and told the gunman that it was his son's birthday. The gunman showed no mercy or remorse, and shot Mintz with more bullets. Amazingly, Mintz survived, but he is paralyzed and will have to learn how to walk again.
Another controversy with gun laws. On Oct. 2, U.S. President Barack Obama vented regarding the Oregon tragedy. He stated, "Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it... We have become numb to this." Obama urged that action should be taken, and that "our thoughts and prayers are not enough." He believes that this should be another wake-up call to Americans, in which new firearm control laws need to be passed by Congress.
In addition, students who have proper paperwork are allowed to carry guns on campus. Oregon is one of seven states where lawmakers have said people with concealed weapons permits must be allowed to bring concealed weapons onto campus, according to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL).
The gunman, Mercer, was described by many as very odd, quiet, and someone who liked to stay to himself.
Mercer had multiple social media accounts where he posted pictures of himself with his guns. Mercer described himself on his MySpace as someone who was "not religious, but spiritual," and that he didn't like "organized religion." The gunman left a hate-filled note at the scene of the crime, which stated that he "felt that the world was against him" and that he would be "welcomed in Hell and embraced by the Devil."
Mercer also had his own blog, in which he had written some very disturbing things. His writings would usually include rants regarding how he was not fond of African Americans, how he usually felt isolated, and was unable to get a girlfriend. However, one of his most disturbing posts was regarding the tragic shooting of a news reporter and a cameraman in Virginia, that took place in late August of this year.
One of Mercer's blog post regarding Vester Flanagan (who was responsible for the killings in Virgina) reads: "I have noticed that so many people like him are all alone and unknown, yet when they spill a little blood, the whole world knows who they are. A man who was known by no one, is now known by everyone. His face splashed across every screen, his name across the lips of every person on the planet, all in the course of one day. Seems the more people you kill, the more you're in the limelight."
According to CNN, Mercer "served in the Army in 2008 from Nov. 5 to Dec. 11 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, but was discharged for failing to meet the minimum administrative standards." Mercer never made it out of basic training.
Clearly all the red flags were here, but no one notices until something actually happens.
Mercer's cause of death was announced as a suicide, from a self-inflicted gun shot wound according to the Oregon state Medical Examiner's office
Umpqua Community College re-opened on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015.
The Deeper meaning of this tragedy -- from a Christian perspective. This incident is very troubling for our nation. We have reached a point in today's world, where ISIS is not our only enemy, terrorists are not our only enemy, but also our own American citizens are responsible for these horrific and evil acts.
Mercer's actions speak for themselves. Not only the shooting, but also his hate-filled note and his blogs. His ultimate goal, was to go someplace that he was familiar with, a place where he knew there were Christians, and then carry out his attack.
Christians, as people of faith, it is important to realize that this act was also a form of spiritual warfare. Christians all over this world are being persecuted because of their faith, and now we see it happening in our own country. This is a sign of the times.
As Jesus Christ said himself in Matthew 24:9-10 , "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other."
As a Christian myself, who attends a Christian university, it is important they we get prepared spiritually for what is to come. We must be vigilant of our surroundings at all times, and pray for God's favor to protect us everyday of our lives.
People get ready, because the second coming of Jesus Christ is coming near. This needs to be a wake-up call for all Christians. This needs to be a wake-up call for America.
My heart, my thoughts and my prayers truly do go out to all the victims' families, and all others who were effected by this tragedy.
"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." -Matthew 10:22
