Students, frantic for information, look for answers
February 14, 2008
A victim with a head wound sat outside Neptune while a University Police officer shouted, “He is NOT OK!”
Jose Ruiz, brother of one victim stood by as University Police secured the area and stretched caution tape around the area near the victim. “Someone shot my sister!” he said as he made numerous phone calls.
Another witness, Jerry Sandoni, said the shooter was not in the auditorium classroom the whole time but entered at about 3:05 p.m.
“The shooter entered from the right-side stage door, he didn’t say anything, he just started shooting,” Sandoni said. “It was a rifle or shotgun. There must have been 8-12 shots.”
Police cleared the sidewalk along Neptune east of pedestrians to allow the incoming ambulances to pass.
Wounded went to Neptune while University Police and DeKalb City Police secured the area outside of Cole by the water fountain.
Inside Neptune, the reactions ranged from hysteric crying to grim smiling.
Three victims sat throughout the main hall of connecting the east and west wings while police officers, students trained in first aid and anyone who could help attended to their wounds.
Victim Joseph Turzy sat pale with multiple jackets on him to ward off shock while Eric Nealson and Andrew Patten attended to his leg wounds.
“I went down real fast, I was shot when I was running,” Turzy said.
Other students silently stood back watching as police officers and residence hall officials secured and assessed everyone’s status.
Harold Ng sat in a stairwell while his head was bandaged by Jeff Merkel, a former hospitalman third class attached to the marine infantry for five years and Northern Star columnist.
Ng was escorted closer to the door and friends called his mom’s cell phone.
When asked if there was anything he needed, Ng said with a smile, “Play Station 3.”
Merkle, who offered assistance to police officers when he saw the victims, said, “It’s just second nature now.”
Another victim sat on the steps in the hallway leading from Neptune East to Central wearing a blood-stained Captain America T-shirt.
He sustained superficial wounds to the back of the crown of his head.