Oregon college shooting: Flak jacket, six weapons found at school

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The attack shattered the first week of classes in the small town of Roseburg. The college, which is closed,  hopes to open early next week.

The gunman, 26-year-old Christopher Harper Mercer, opened fire inside a classroom, killing nine people before dying in a shootout with police, authorities said.   Read more about Mercer here.

It’s not clear if Mercer killed himself or died from officers’ gunfire.

At least seven other people were hurt during the rampage.

Gunman had multiple weapons

“The families are currently living through the nightmare in the most personal way possible,” Hanlin said, asking for the media to respect their privacy.

He then introduced FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Celinez Nunez.

Motive for rampage

Police have blocked off Mercer's apartment four miles north of the college in Roseburg. The search may reveal why he went on the rampage.

The father of an injured student, who spoke with reporters outside a hospital, said Mercer was targeting students based on their religion.

“This man had enough time to ask people, one by one, what their religion was – ‘Are you a Christian?’ he would ask them.  Then (he said) ‘Stand up’ and they would stand up and he said, ‘Good, because you're a Christian you're going to see God in about one second,’ and then he shot and killed them,” said Stacy Boylan.

Similar accounts have been reported, but Boylan’s account has not been corroborated by police.

Gunman’s father reacts

The gunman's father said the only word to describe his emotions following the shootings is shock.

“I am just as shocked as anybody at what happened. Obviously, it’s been a devastating day for me and my family,” Ian Mercer said as he spoke to reporters briefly Thursday night outside of his Los Angeles area home.

He said he is speaking to the FBI, but asked for privacy for his family.

Active shooter tactics

Meanwhile, officials say the actions of officers likely saved lives.

Police employed a tactic to help get paramedics to victims much quicker. They brought rescuers into what they call a "warm zone" -- an unsecured area during a shooting.

The idea is to first get victims medical treatment and then get them out of the building, as soon as they can.

Officials have not said exactly how the shooter interacted with the victims as he fired, but one active shooter expert, Jesus Villahermosa, says the best thing you can do is lock yourself down in a room.

But Villahermosa says too many students are taught to duck and cover, no matter where they are.

“Lockdown is the number one tactic that saves the greatest amount of lives. But if you’re near the shooter, the next tactic is run,” said Villahermosa.

Villahermosa says duck and cover only works if you're in a locked room. If you're in the same room as the shooter, you either need to run or fight, according to Villahermosa.

Villahermosa recently taught the survivor tactic to 6,000 students in the Olympia School District.

Several local districts, including Issaquah, have adopted the FBI's "run- hide- fight" strategy.

Thousands attend vigil

Thursday night, thousands of people packed a Roseburg park for a vigil to remember the victims. Read the story here.

One of the students who was at the school at the time of the shooting said her boyfriend saved her life when she froze. He helped her jump over a cliff to escape.

“It was horrible. I was hyperventilating. I could barely move my legs. He had to drag me around, basically,” said UCC student Angel Ardito.

The president of the college told the crowd that counselors will be available all weekend at the college.