CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Students at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte said they do feel safe for the most part on campus. But some have concerns Thursday after a 26-year-old gunman walked onto an Oregon community college campus earlier and opened fire.
"It just opens my eyes, this is something that happens like it's common now," said Chezia Tarleton, UNCC student.
"There are two different reasons typically why they do it,” said Michael Clumpner, an active shooter researcher. "Number one, they do it to enact justice on someone who has done them wrong. But more often these perpetrators are making a statement of violence, and the people involved typically had no relationship to the shooter.”
Public safety officials at UNCC have a plan in place in the case of an active shooting situation on their campus.
The university has warning sirens, a text-messaging system and the school also implemented a campus lockdown function to keep students safe.
"We all live with the mentality it can't happen here, but the reality is it can," said Lt. Brian Thomas, UNCC Public Safety.
Students also carry green cards with them that carry emergency information.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- TRACKING JOAQUIN: Hurricane batters Bahamas, unleashes severe flooding
- NC victim in Oregon shooting tried to stop gunman, family says
- Gunman opens fire at Oregon college; at least 9 killed
- FORECAST: Flood Watch for NC in effect through Monday
- Body of teen missing since 2008 found in chimney
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
