*The mindset of Chris Harper Mercer, the man who shot and killed nine people at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., is coming to light via information from social media accounts associated with Mercer’s email address.
TheRoot.com references CNN, which mentioned news of police discovering “ramblings” from the 26-year-old gunman about his hatred toward black people as well as “and general feelings of anger about being isolated and unable to make relationships.”
Although the reasons for Mercer’s hatred toward blacks, isolation and inability to form relationships are unclear, CNN goes on to mention remarks some family members made to investigators that reveal that Mercer had mental-health problems and had sought treatment.
Describing Mercer’s parents, other relatives told The Daily Beast that Mercer’s father is white and his mother is black. According to neighbors, the mother is described as fiercely protective of her son.
Adding to this is an online dating profile for Mercer that identified him as “mixed race,” a “conservative, republican,” with a “dislike” of “organized religion.”
Media sources point out that Mercer reportedly singled out Christians in his attack when he arrived at Umpqua Community College heavily armed and wearing body armor. At the time of the attack, Mercer was enrolled in English and theater classes at the school, where he opened fire in the English class he was in.
Those killed, as named by Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin on Friday (Oct. 2), were Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20; Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18; Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Dale Johnson, 34; Lawrence Levine, 67, a teacher; and Sarena Dawn Moore, 44.
Speaking with CNN, law enforcement officials stated that Mercer carried a fascination for the Irish Republican Army, based on the online information they collected. While a MySpace page associated with Mercer includes his images and IRA posters, no link with any organized groups has been found from the investigation.
For more on Mercer, click here and here.
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