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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Parts of Normal Neighborhood Plan approved ... Pacific fisher sculpture dedicated in Ashland ... Techtoberfest has high-tech speakers and exhibits ... Parts of Normal Neighborhood Plan approved ... Pacific fisher sculpture dedicated in Ashland ... Techtoberfest has high-tech speakers and exhibits ... UCC SHOOTING Douglas County DA: UCC gunman killed himself after police shot him Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 10:43 AM Updated Oct 7, 2015 at 2:08 PM Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 10:43 AM Updated Oct 7, 2015 at 2:08 PM » Social News Authorities say the gunman who killed nine people at an Oregon community college killed himself inside a classroom after two plainclothes officers shot and wounded him. Douglas County District Attorney Rick Wesenberg said at a news conference Wednesday that Detective Sgt. Joe Kaney and Detective Todd Spingath, both of Roseburg police, were the first on scene. They traveled to the campus from five miles away where they were working on a case. When they arrived at Umpqua Community College, they heard a volley of gunfire and ran toward the shots. Two Oregon State Police troopers also responded. They spotted 26-year-old Christopher Harper-Mercer in the doorway of Snyder Hall at 10:44 a.m. He immediately fired at the officers, who were in plainclothes and weren't wearing bulletproof vests. Both officers tried to gain a better vantage point, aware that there were at least 35 students in one of the classrooms that could be hit by their shots, officials said at Wednesday's news conference. Kaney and Spingath both saw a muzzle flash from Harper-Mercer's gun. Wesenberg said the officers returned fire, shooting three rounds, one of which struck Harper-Mercer in the right side. The other two went into the entrance wall of Snyder Hall near his location. Once Harper-Mercer was wounded, he went back into the classroom and shot himself at the front of the room. "I want everyone to know the selfless acts these officers made in responding to the scene," a statement from Wesenberg reads. "The officers had little regard for their personal safety and saved many people that day with their heroic acts. Sgt. Kaney and Detective Spingath used their training and discipline to determine the best time to take a shot at the shooter, and once the suspect engaged the police officers, he did not shoot another student. These men saved lives this day." MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 10:43 AM Updated Oct 7, 2015 at 2:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501