Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

6th Student Dies in NIU Shooting

Details on massacre emerge as victims fight to survive

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 15, 2008 5:29 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – A sixth victim of the gunman who opened fire in an Illinois college classroom yesterday has died and at least four more remain in critical condition. The assailant, a former grad student at Northern Illinois University, entered through a door to the right of the lecture stage and silently started shooting. He fired a shotgun at the more than 100 students in Geology 104, then shot and wounded the instructor with a handgun, and then shot himself.

One of the victims, Daniel Parmentier, was shot in the head while sitting in the front row of the auditorium; his girlfriend, sitting next to him, was also killed. Students who fled the lecture hall jumped over others who were ducking for safety. Some crawled to the exits, as at least 22 were struck by bullets. "It didn't look like he was aiming directly at someone," said one survivor. "I think he was trying to hit as many people as he could."

Sorority and fraternity members of Northern Illinois University participates in a candlelight vigil early Friday Feb. 15, 2008 for Dan Parmenter one of the five victims of the NIU shooting in DeKalb, Ill.,. A former student dressed in black walked onto the stage of a lecture hall at Northern Illinois...
Sorority and fraternity members of Northern Illinois University participates in a candlelight vigil early Friday Feb. 15, 2008 for Dan Parmenter one of the five victims of the NIU shooting in DeKalb,...   (Associated Press)
Northern Illinois University employee Jessica Best, left, and student Suzanne Mauher participate in a prayer vigil at Wellspring Chapel for the victims of the NIU shooting in DeKalb, Ill., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Northern Illinois University employee Jessica Best, left, and student Suzanne Mauher participate in a prayer vigil at Wellspring Chapel for the victims of the NIU shooting in DeKalb, Ill., Thursday, Feb....   (Associated Press)
Ryan Wells, left, and his wife Jacqueline, second from left, a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, NIU employee Jessica Best, second from right, and student Suzanne Mauher for a prayer vigil at Wellspring Chapel for the victims of the NIU shooting in DeKalb, Ill., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. (AP...
Ryan Wells, left, and his wife Jacqueline, second from left, a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, NIU employee Jessica Best, second from right, and student Suzanne Mauher for a prayer...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Coverage from NIU's student newspaper
Northern Star

Profiles of the identified victims
Chicago Sun-Times

Press releases from the university on the fate of the victims
Northern Illinois University

Timeline of the events at NIU
Rockford Register Star

US

 
college • school shooting • gunman • Northern Illinois University • gun violence

More Newser Stories

NIU Gunman Had Stopped Taking Meds

Finnish Cops Questioned Shooter Yesterday

9 Dead In Finland School Shooting

Mental Illness Drove NIU Killer to Suicide Tries

Gunman Was Known as 'Gentle, Even,' 'Best in Class'
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne