Quinn Cooper, 18, was in his fourth day of college and one of the youngest victims in the Umpqua Community College shooting. His family said he graduated in June from Roseburg High school. "Quinn was funny, sweet, compassionate and such a wonderful loving person. He always stood up for people. Quinn and his brother Cody are inseparable," family said." Our lives are shattered beyond repair. We send our condolences to all the families who have been so tragically affected by this deranged gunman. No one should ever have to feel the pain we are feeling."
Photo from Douglas County Sheriff's Office
ROSEBURG, Ore., Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Law enforcement said the nine people who died in the Oregon community college shooting ranged in age from 18 to 67, from young adults in their first week of college to a retired school teacher turned college professor.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office identified the nine people killed as Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Dale Johnson, 33; Lawrence Levine, 67; Sarena Dawn Moore, 44; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20; and Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18. The shooter, Christopher Sean Harper-Mercer, 26, died in a shootout with police. It is unclear if he took his own life or was killed by police.
Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said nine others were injured in the shooting, clarifying previous information that had up to 10 injured. At least one victim who was critically injured is expected to have lasting brain damage.
Rita Cavin, interim president of the school, said Harper-Mercer was enrolled in English and theater classes. He initially opened fire in an English class, she said. Investigators said he was armed with six guns, a flak jacket and spare ammunition magazines as he asked each of his victims if they were Christians. He had seven more guns at his apartment, officials said. Federal investigators are trying to determine what led Harper-Mercer to the shootings.
Friends and relatives said Harper-Mercer was withdrawn and quiet as he grew up in southern California, but would talk for hours about guns. He and his mother moved to Oregon about two years ago.
"When we talked about guns and hunting, he was real open about it," said neighbor, Louie Flores, 32. "But anything about what was going on in his life, he really didn't say too much at all."
In a written statement distributed by law enforcement, victims' family members expressed shock and horror, many at a loss for describing the depth of their loved ones.
"We have been trying to figure out how to tell everyone how amazing Lucas was," the Eibel family said of the 18-year-old. "but that would take 18 years."
