Four Dead In BIE University Murder-Suicide

Police: professor shot three students, then himself

GERBANNON, BIE--Four people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a university in Gerbannon Thursday, police said.

Police say 57-year-old Joseph Walker Sunmore, an economics professor, walked into a classroom at Renstad University, where he worked, and shot and killed three of his students. He then turned the gun on himself, firing a fatal shot to the chest.

The shooting occurred at around 10:45 a.m., just as hundreds of students were going to classes. Police say Sunmore walked into the Chefmore Science Building armed with a .48 caliber hand gun and stormed into the classroom and opened fire, killing three female students, and then shooting himself. Seven other students and a teacher were still inside the room when the shooting took place. Many of them took cover behind desks and tables, police said. At least two male students attempted to tackle the shooter, but their efforts were unsuccessful. No one else was injured in the shooting.

The names of the victims have not been identified, pending notification of kin. However, authorities say the killings were not random. According to police, just three weeks earlier, university officials had received complaints from two female students that Sunmore had inappropriately touched them and made unwanted sexual advances toward them. Two of the victims were the same women who filed the complaint with school administrators. The third victim was a friend of the other women.

Police believe the motive for the killing was vengeance for the sexual misconduct case pending against Sunmore, who had been placed on unpaid leave while school officials investigated. University officials tell GNN News Sunmore, who had no prior ethical issues, adamantly denied the accusations leveled against him by the two female students. He had also expressed anger at the way school officials were handling the case.

At a press conference, police and university administrators expressed disbelief and sadness.

"We are all shocked at what happened today, and we are mourning the loss of three wonderful, vibrant students," Dr. William Giblet, the university's president, told reporters.

Gerbannon Police Chief, Jim Rix, also spoke with reporters, saying it was a "very sad day" for the entire community.

School officials also praised students and staff for following emergency procedure. Although the shooting happened very quickly and occurred without warning, school officials sent out emergency alerts to students' and staffs' cell phones via text messaging. The school also sounded an alarm, which triggered automatic lock-downs at nearby buildings, and posted alerts on its website. This was the first time the school has had to use its text messaging service for a real emergency.

"What happened today was very sad, and I'm not trying to downplay what happened. But it could have been much worse had we not had this text messaging system in place to warn students and staff to stay out of the area," Giblet said.

The university will be closed tomorrow, and will offer counseling services to students and staff. A candlelight vigil will also be held tomorrow night at the Billmore Commons in the central part of the campus.