On a crisp autumn day in Roseburg, Oregon, the life of Lawrence Peter "Larry" Levine, a 67-year-old White male, was tragically cut short. It was October 1, 2015, and Levine, an assistant professor of English, was leading his Introduction to Expository Writing class at Umpqua Community College, just the fourth day of the fall term. A quiet and laid-back man, he was known for his passion for fly-fishing, a skill he shared with others as a guide on the North Umpqua River.
The morning took a
horrific turn when a 26-year-old student from the class, Chris Harper-Mercer, arrived late, armed with multiple firearms. He opened fire, killing Levine and eight of his students in what would become the deadliest mass shooting in Oregon's history. Accounts from survivors state that Harper-Mercer specifically asked his victims about their religion before shooting them. In total, nine people were killed, and several others were injured.
The shooter, Christopher Sean Harper-Mercer, had a history of mental health issues and had expressed animosity towards various groups in writings he left behind. He was reportedly frustrated with his life and admired the notoriety gained by other mass shooters. After his deadly rampage through the classroom, Harper-Mercer engaged in a shootout with Roseburg police detectives who had responded to the scene. He was wounded during the exchange and then took his own life. Authorities later found a total of fourteen legally purchased firearms belonging to the shooter and his mother, eight of which were at his apartment. There were no other suspects, and no arrests were made as the sole perpetrator was deceased.
