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10 killed, 7 hurt in Oregon campus shooting

Posted at 9:21 PM, Oct 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-01 23:21:05-04

Ten people were killed and seven others were reported injured in a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in the city of Roseburg, according to Sheriff John Hanlin in Douglas County, Oregon.

At an evening press conference, the sheriff said, "Let me be very clear. You will not hear me name the shooter," adding he didn't want to give the suspect credibility. The Associated Press did identity him as Chris Harper Mercer, 26, citing an anonymous government official. The sheriff's office will wait for the medical examiner to give an official identification. The AP adds the shooter is among the dead.

Speaking in a press conference at 1:44 p.m. PDT, Hanlin said the initial calls about the shooting were received at 10:38 a.m. He told reporters that the responding officers engaged the suspect in a gunfight either in or near a classroom.

Of the seven people wounded, three were in critical condition, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. All of the wounded were initially treated at Mercy Medical in Roseburg, the sheriff's office said. However, the critically injured were later taken to another facility for treatment.

The director of another local facility, Sacred Heart Medical Center, confirmed that they received three female patients from the shooting, all between the ages of 18 and 34 though their conditions have not been released publicly. Two of the patients "quickly went to the operating room," the director said.

The number of dead and wounded has fluctuated throughout the day, with different numbers coming from hospitals and government officials, including the governor's office. 

Sources briefed on the matters said 4 guns were found at the scene including one AR-style rifle, according to ABC News.

Investigators haven't determined a motive.

They were conducting a background investigation into his life and were reviewing messages he left behind.

No officers were injured but the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook that at least two "heroic" officers went into the building with the shooter and exchanged gunfire with the man.

President Obama spoke emotionally about the shooting in a press conference. He said prayers are not enough anymore, and it's time for political action.

Umpqua Community College has about 3,300 full-time students and 16,000 part-time students, according to ABC News. The school's website was down Thursday and a phone message left at the school wasn't immediately returned.

Roseburg is about 180 miles south of Portland.

The mother of Aurora theater shooting victim Alex Teves tweeted condolences.

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ABC News contributed to this report