Chris Harper Mercer who has been identified by US media as the gunman in Oregon shooting in which at least nine people died and dozens more were wounded

A gunman opened fire inside a classroom at a rural Oregon college, killing at least nine people before dying in a shoot-out with police.

One survivor said he demanded his victims state their religion before he started shooting.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY REUTERS Police officers inspect bags as students and staff are evacuated from campus following a shooting incident at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire on Thursday at a community college in Oregon, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by law enforcement, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school, the state attorney general and county sheriff said. REUTERS/Michael Sullivan/The News-Review NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. MANDATORY CREDIT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY The News-Review Reporters do their stand-ups as U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in the briefing room to speak about the shootings in Oregon from the White House in Washington October 1, 2015. Obama on Thursday angrily repeated that gun laws needed to be changed after the latest mass murder in Oregon and took aim at the powerful gun lobby for blocking reform. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque REUTERS Umpqua Community College interim president Rita Cavin speaks to the media after a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS Umpqua Community College interim president Rita Cavin pauses as she speaks to the media after a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS Police cruisers block the entrance to the site of a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS Police officers stand guard near the site of a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS A woman places a candle as people take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS A DHS police investigator is seen with a canine at residential location following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS A police investigator is seen at residential location following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS People gather for a candlelight vigil at Stewart Park in Roseburg, Ore., after a shooting with multiple fatalities occurred at Umpqua Community College, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. (Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian via AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp People take part in candle light vigil following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The attack shattered the first week of classes at Umpqua Community College in the small timber town of Roseburg, about 180 miles south of Portland.

The killer was identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer. The authorities shed no light on his motive and said they were investigating.

However, a number of news outlets have reported how his online presence indicates support for the IRA and a morbid interest in the Sandy Hook massacre.

A Myspace page bearing Mercer's name features pictures of masked gunmen and references to the Irish Republican army. The account features an apparent front page of 'An Phoblacht', with the headlines 'British Army Could Not Defeat IRA'. One photo of six men wearing camouflage jackets and balaclavas carries the caption "looking cool defending their country", while a close-up of an IRA fighter carries a caption identifying the type of rifle he's holding. Mixed in with the photos of the IRA are a photo of Mercer holding a rifle, encaptioned "Me, holding a rifle. It was supposed to be all the way in the picture, but it didn't work out. Only the barrel shows", and a photo of him in a tuxedo taken before his sister's wedding. Under the 'video' tab, there is one video entitled 'IRA' which features the 'Wolfe Tones' playing over a slideshow of pictures related to the IRA.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close A screencapture of the MySpace page under the name 'Chris Harper Mercers'. U.S. President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about the shootings in Oregon from the White House in Washington October 1, 2015. Obama on Thursday angrily repeated that gun laws needed to be changed after the latest mass murder in Oregon and took aim at the powerful gun lobby for blocking reform. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp A screencapture of the MySpace page under the name 'Chris Harper Mercers'.

Mercer also appeared to be prolific user of file-sharing system Bittorrent.

According to The Guardian, an email address 'ironcross45@gmail.com' was found to be associated with Mercer via a public records search, and is linked to an account that bears the username 'Lithium_Love'.

The final video uploaded by this user to the site, just three days ago, was a BBC documentary called 'Surviving Sandy Hook' about the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.

Witnesesses to the shooting have been giving their account of what happened.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close First responders transport an injured person following a shooting incident at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire on Thursday at a community college in Oregon, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by law enforcement, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school, the state attorney general and county sheriff said. REUTERS/Michael Sullivan/The News-Review NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. MANDATORY CREDIT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY The News-Review Police investigators are seen at residential location following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS A Federal Protective Service Police vehicle seen following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS A police officer is seen at a residential location following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS Police investigators are seen following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp First responders transport an injured person following a shooting incident at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire on Thursday at a community college in Oregon, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by law enforcement, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school, the state attorney general and county sheriff said. REUTERS/Michael Sullivan/The News-Review NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. MANDATORY CREDIT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Hannah Miles, 19, was in her writing class when her teacher got a call from security saying the school was in lockdown. She heard gunshots from a neighbouring classroom.

She said that huddled together in the locked classroom, the students and teacher heard a footsteps outside and a man's voice call out to them: "Come on out, come on out." They remained quiet and did not open the door.

Police soon arrived, and after students were convinced that it was indeed officers, they opened the door.

"It was like a huge burden had been lifted," she said. "A huge sigh of relief that we were going to be OK."

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Umpqua Community College alumnus Donice Smith (L) is embraced after she said one of her former teachers was shot dead, near the site of a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg,Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY REUTERS A sign expresses local people's sentiments following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southwest Oregon on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding seven others before police shot him to death, authorities said, in the latest mass killing to rock an American campus. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Umpqua Community College alumnus Donice Smith (L) is embraced after she said one of her former teachers was shot dead, near the site of a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg,Oregon October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said, in the latest mass killing to rock a U.S. school. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and wounded in the shooting rampage in Roseburg, which began shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). REUTERS/Steve Dipaola TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said at least two officers acted heroically in the shoot-out, but it was not clear if the gunman was killed by authorities or whether he took his own life.

At a news conference, a visibly angry Mr Hanlin said he would not name the shooter.

"I will not name the shooter. I will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act," he said.

"It's been a terrible day. Certainly this is a huge shock to our community."

Mercer had been living at an apartment complex in nearby Winchester. Yellow police tape surrounded the building on Thursday night.

A neighbour, Bronte Hart, said Mercer would "sit by himself in the dark in the balcony with this little light".

She said a woman she believed to be Mercer's mother also lived upstairs and was "crying her eyes out" on Thursday.

Distressed parents rushed to the county fairgrounds, where students were being taken by bus to reunite with families.

The sheriff said 10 people were dead and seven wounded. An FBI spokeswoman said the gunman was included in that number.

Earlier, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said 13 people had been killed.

Hours after the attack, a frustrated president Barack Obama spoke to reporters at the White House, saying the US is becoming numb to mass shootings and that the shooters have "sickness" in their minds.

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Repeating his support for tighter gun-control measures, the president said thoughts and prayers are no longer enough in such situations because they do nothing to stop similar attacks from happening a few weeks or months later.

He challenged voters wanting to confront the problem to vote for elected officials who will act.

Police began receiving calls about a campus shooting at 10.38am local time. The school has a single unarmed security guard.

Kortney Moore, 18, said she was in a writing class when a shot came through the window and hit the teacher in the head.

The gunman then entered the Snyder Hall classroom and told people to get on the floor, she told the Roseburg News-Review newspaper. He told people to stand up and state their religion before opening fire.

The gunfire sparked panic as students ran for safety and police and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Some students were in tears. Police lined them up in a car park with their hands over their heads and searched them.

Roseburg is no stranger to school gun violence. A student at the local high school shot and wounded a fellow student in 2006.

The sheriff has been vocal in opposing gun-control legislation.

In 2013, Mr Hanlin sent a letter to Vice President Joe Biden after the shooting at a Newtown, Connecticut, school, declaring that he and his deputies would refuse to enforce new gun-control restrictions "offending the constitutional rights of my citizens".

Before the Roseburg shooting, a posting on the message-board site 4chan included a photo of a crudely drawn frog used regularly in Internet memes with a gun and warned other users not to go to school on Thursday in the north-west.

The messages that followed spoke of mass shootings, with some egging on and even offering tips to the original poster. It was unclear if the messages were tied to the shooting because of the largely anonymous nature of the site.

Roseburg is in Douglas County, a politically conservative region west of the Cascade Range where people like to hunt and fish and pursue other outdoor activities.

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