Oregon Sheriff: Medical Examiner Ruled Shooter’s Cause Of Death As Suicide

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin speaks at a press conference Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Roseburg, Ore., on the deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College. Armed with multiple guns, Chris Harper Mercer, 26, walked i... Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin speaks at a press conference Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Roseburg, Ore., on the deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College. Armed with multiple guns, Chris Harper Mercer, 26, walked in a classroom at the community college, Thursday, and opened fire, killing several and wounding others. (AP Photo/John Locher) MORE LESS
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Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said in a news conference Saturday that medical examiners ruled the cause of death of the shooter at the Oregon community college as suicide.

The shooting, which took place at Upqua Community College on Thursday morning, left nine people dead.

Hanlin had previously said that he would not identify the shooter, but other news outlets, such as The Associated Press and The New York Times identified the gunman as as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer based on information from anonymous federal law enforcement sources and government officials.

“To the families of the victims, our hearts are with you,” Hanlin said. “And you know that our hearts will be with you forever. Please know that we consider your loved ones to be our heroes. They will never be forgotten.”

This post has been updated.

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  1. Using the Sheriff’s Sandy Hook logic, do we really know? What if the Sheriff is part of a gun-grab conspiracy?

  2. It’s interesting how badly this case destroys GOP talking points on mass shootings.

    1. Shooter was an anti-religion, right winger, not the left wing ideologue they claim commit these shootings.
    2. The school was NOT a gun-free zone, so that had no bearing on the choice of target.
    3. Several students were armed, and did not even attempt to stop the shooter.
    4. A good guy with a gun did NOT take down the shooter, a bad guy with a gun did.
    5. The shooter had a series of issues that would’ve raised red flags, but his guns were purchased legally.

    Off topic: Take that @NCSteve …Beat that ass all up in your own house!

  3. The sheriff went on to say “…Suicide? Hah. I have my people checking out the grassy knoll next to the shooter’s car because well if you know anything it’s that grassy knolls are the one thing common to assassinations and hits and well weddings too, but this was no wedding… Blah Blah Blah conspiracy Blah Blah.”

  4. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    If only the shooter had been instructed to check efficacy of firearms by chambering a round, placing one of the gun against his head and squeezing the trigger FIRST!

    Think of all the lives that could have been saved.

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