ITHACA, N.Y. -- A gunman who killed two Cornell University coeds in their dormitory room and shot himself in the head was the spurned boyfriend of one of his victims, police said.
Su Yong Kim, 26, of New York City was in critical condition late Sunday and under police guard at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.
The victims were identified as Young Hee Suh, 19, of Elmhurst and her roommate, Erin Nieswand, 19, of Long Valley, N.J.
Police and a student who said he heard the shootings said Kim apparently entered the dorm at northern end of the school's campus in Ithaca late Saturday and began arguing with Miss Suh, his ex-girlfriend.
During the argument, the gunman was armed with a rifle and held the two victims, another roommate and four other students hostage in the room, said sophomore Larry Cohen, who lived next door to the victims. Police said the weapon was a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle.
'Then he let the others go, but he kept the two girls,' Cohen said. 'He (Kim) had been bothering her all semester. She knew who he was ... he was an obsessed lover.'
Shortly after he let the other students go, the gunman shot the two roommates and then walked out of the dorm. Cohen said he did not remember how many shots were fired.
'It was very frantic,' Cohen said. 'Everyone was up, studying for finals, and it was a madhouse.'
Kim left the dorm in a car and was chased by campus police, who stopped him a few miles away.
Before officers could reach him, Kim shot himself in the head, police said. He was taken to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse where he was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Cohen said he went into the victims' rooms moments after the shooting to find the bodies. Miss Suh was pronounced dead at the scene and Miss Nieswand died at 5 a.m. Sunday at Upstate Medical Center.
'All the resident advisers went around telling people to lock their doors, that somebody had been shot,' said Marty Heedner, a senior at the school. 'All havoc broke loose. This never happens here. This is a very peaceful community.'
Cornell President Frank Rhodes said he felt 'a particular sense of shock that such a mindless act of violence should take place on a college campus, a place dedicated to friendship and trust.'
University officials said all operations at the school, including exams, would proceed as scheduled.
A memorial service was planned for the victims for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Miss Suh was a freshman studying human ecology and Miss Nieswand was a freshman arts student.
