Mass Shooting on Oregon Campus

A Kiwi caught up in the Oregon college shootings is so "totally distressed" he wants to return to New Zealand.

Jaylen Gerrand, 20, saw four bodies when an unknown gunman opened fire on the campus at Umpqua Community College, almost 300km south of Portland this morning.

The male shooter is dead after killing 13 people and injuring another 20, US media reported.

Gerrand, a former student of Westlake Boys High School on Auckland's North Shore, had been in the US for only two weeks on a basketball scholarship.

Jeff Green, the head coach of Gerrand's New Zealand basketball team, the James Blond Supercity Rangers, said he had spoken to Gerrand this morning and he was shaken up but uninjured.

"He was running alongside a guy and the guy was shot dead - the guy running next him," Green said.

"He ran past three others that were shot dead, so it was horrifying, horrific.

"So he saw four people dead. He's totally distressed, totally distressed. He just wants to come home right now. It's a huge, huge tragedy."

Green's son, Tamamoko, and another Kiwi, Hyrum Harris, were set to join Gerrand in the US on Tuesday after the New Zealand secondary school national basketball championships.

Green said he had spoken to the Umpqua basketball coach and their travel had been postponed.

"Right now it's all up in the air. But the boys won't be going up on Tuesday."

Gerrand, who plays point guard, had been in the New Zealand Breakers academy team for a couple of years.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said staff in the US were in contact with Gerrand and helping in any way they could.

He was "doing fine and is back [at his US] home with friends".

Staff were also supporting family in New Zealand, who have spoken to Gerrand.

Prime Minister John Key, currently in New York, said he had not been advised on the New Zealander involved but was confident the ministry would ensure he had appropriate support.

Mr Key said US President Barack Obama had previously raised the need for gun controls but the Congress and Senate seemed unwilling to move.

"The tragedy for the United States in recent times is that this isn't the first and sadly it doesn't look like it's going to be the last. The United States has hundreds and hundreds of millions of guns in circulation. From Virginia Tech to the most recent in Oregon we've just seen far too many innocent people killed as a result of that."

US media are reporting there are at least two girls among the dead, CNN reported one female had been shot in the chest, but there remains little other detail around the casualties.

Early reports suggested there could be up to 15 dead after one shooter opened fire at Umpqua Community College at 10:30am local time.

But Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has just confirmed with MSNBC that 13 were killed.

A chilling message was posted on an internet forum last night, hours before a shooter opened fire at the college.

The chilling message read, "Don't go to school tomorrow if you are in the northwest".

It was posted anonymously on bulletin board 4chan, the Daily Mail reported.

The chilling message read, "Don't go to school tomorrow if you are in the northwest". Photo / Twitter

"Some of you guys are alright... Will post again in am, 10 min countdown. Won't say more too much to prepare,' the post continues.

It is yet to be confirmed if the message was posted by the shooter.

CNN reported one female had been shot in the chest, but there remains little other detail around the other casualties.

According to the Guardian a Roseburg sheriff Jan Hanlin told media gathered near the college the shooter was a male and has been killed.

"The shooter is deceased," he said. "I have no further information on that."

He said the scene was a "very active one".

He couldn't confirm anything about a warning posted online to stay away from the campus.

At least 20 people were injured in the shooting. Photo / AP

Mr Hanlin did say the shooter fired at police officers when they arrived - but he didn't know what type of weapon the gunman had.

As the incident unfolded one student, Kayla Marie, took to social media.

"OMG there's someone shooting on campus," she tweeted. "Students are running everywhere. Holy God."

She later tweeted an update saying she was okay and being bussed off campus.

Local police responding to the incident were joined by FBI and special agents from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

UCC Associate Professor in English Jillanne Michell told Oregon Live the shooting happened in Snyder Hall on the campus.

US emergency personnel have confirmed there is no longer an active threat on campus.

The injured have been sent to various hospitals in the area depending on their injuries, while police continue to clear the scene.

US Senator from the State of Oregon, Jeff Merkley tweeted his shock at the news.

"Horrific news from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. My heart and prayers are with the victims and their families."

US media are already questioning just what may be behind this latest shooting.

Professor of Sociology Randy Blazak who has spent the last 25 years studying hate crimes and hate groups told the Washington Post past incidents shows shooters like this tend to be "white and male".

"It's heart-breaking how often our news cycle is disrupted by something like this.

"They buy into it as a heroic act...even in films the hero is the guy that goes in with two guns blazing."

Mr Blazak says it's often those who've been bullied or suffered a loss that tend to pick up a gun.

Sky News US Correspondent Amanda Walker says such shootings are becoming an all too regular occurrence.

"This seems to have gone into that category of being a really serious incident...we see it way too often," she says. "This is a regular, nonetheless tragic real problem in America."

Everytown for Gun Safety reports since the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut there have been 142 shootings - including this latest one in Oregon.

About Umpqua Community College

• Established in 1964
• Serves the greater Douglas County area
• 3,300 full-time students
• 16,000 part-time students
• It has sixteen campus buildings located on 40 ha near the North Umpqua River

Deadliest school shooting in recent American history:

• Sandy Hook Elementary - December 2012 - 27 deaths, including gunman
• Virginia Tech - April 2007 - 33 deaths, including gunman
• Red Lake Senior High School - March 2005 - 8 Victims, including gunman
• Columbine High School - April 1999 - 15 victims, including two gunmen

Fatal school shootings in America this year:

• Delta State University - September 14 - One professor killed
• Sacramento Community College - September 3 - One student killed.
• Savannah State University - August 27 - One student killed.
• Wichita State University - August 8 - One student killed
• Elolf Elementary School - July 24 - One student killed
• Willow Elementary School - May 4 - One student killed
• Wayne Community College - April 13 - One college worker killed
• Tenaya Middle School - February 15 - One teenager killed
• University of South Carolina - February 2 - One professor killed

- NZ Herald