Category Archives: Intercession

NIU Shooting

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NIU’s Newspaper coverage of this senseless tragedy:

Five victims from Thursday’s shooting have been identified by DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller. They are as follows:

  • Daniel Parmenter, 20, last of Westchester
  • Catalina Garcia, 20, last of Cicero
  • Ryanne Mace, 19, last of Carpentersville
  • Julianna Gehant, 32, last of Meridan
  • Gayle Dubowski, 20, last of Carol Stream

Five lives taken in the prime of life. Sixteen injured and forever changed.

I’m really at a loss for words today. I feel deeply grieved for these families.

At times like this all you can do is pray.

Please Pray…

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If you have turned on CNN in the last hour you have heard about the shootings at Northern Illinois University. NIU is very close to me both geographically and emotionally. This is the college I had planned to attend after high school. (that’s another story that isn’t important right now)

Please pray.

People I know attend NIU. Many people I know have children going to school there.

I am grieved for these families…

So far 18 have been shot (according to cnn at the moment)…

When are these school shootings going to end?!

I will update as I know more…

ETA Update: NIU Website
Campus police are reporting that the gunman IS dead.

ETA: It is believed three are dead including gunman.
It is believed 15 have been taken to area hospitals.
One in surgery.
Four shot in head.
Some are being transferred out of Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
Three being airlifted out to Rockford hospital for higher level care.

ETA Update from press conference at 5:40 PM CT:
18 victims in total: (14 victims have been identified)
6 in fair to good condition
4 critical condition
8 stable condition
gunman was a student but NOT of NIU
gunman dead from self inflicted gunshot wound
it appears at this point there was only one gunman
all classes and activities canceled today and tomorrow
university in shut down mode
counseling set up throughout campus
no other fatalities can be confirmed at this time
contained to Cole Hall
all injuries by gunshot
do not know if one of injured is the professor of the geology class
they believe the entire incident was over in less than two minutes
gunman died on the stage from self inflicted gunshot
there was a shotgun and two handguns – ammunition was still left
the shotgun and one glock have been recovered
the second handgun has not been recovered yet

this is an ongoing investigation this is all that is known at this time

Please continue to pray for those in the hospitals fighting for their lives and their families…this is AGAIN such a senseless tragedy…


ETA Update 6:30PM CT:
I am so sad to add this…they are now reporting on CNN that FOUR victims have died.

*tears*

Touchdown

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Not a touchdown as in football though…how I wish that was the case. No those tornado warnings yesterday became reality. I last heard there were 37 touchdowns in the midwest. For us the tornado touchdown came very close and destroyed a local landmark. There is a local apple orchard that our family (and most everyone who lives around here) has frequented since I was a small child that was destroyed yesterday. I am devastated today but I know it cannot even begin to compare to what the family that owns the orchard is going through. Thankfully the family was not physically hurt. All of their out buildings were destroyed including the fabulous barn that held much of the apple-y goodness every year. Their home was structurally damaged although not leveled like the barns. Miraculously the orchard itself was left untouched by the tornado. For that I am thankful for this dear family. That orchard is their livelihood. Barns can be rebuilt before fall but orchards cannot.
There was so much devastation all over the midwest. I’m thankful we were spared but my heart aches for all those hurt by this. There is nothing you can do when a tornado comes. There is no rhyme or reason to where it will touchdown.
I’m just stunned today. Such a difference 24 hours can make. Yesterday I was posting about how warm it was at this time. Today I’m posting about devastation from that warmth. Amazing.
Lord be with the families that have lost so much in the last 24 hours. I pray you heal their bodies and give them peace in their hearts. Hold them tight in your mighty arms of love.