Six confirmed dead in shooting at NIU Updated: 8:37 p.m.

DeKALB — A man dressed in black opened fire with a shotgun from a stage of a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, killing himself and five others, University President John Peters said. At least 17 people have been shot and police have confirmed that the shooter is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Peters described the incident as a “rapid fire” shooting. He said witnesses “say someone dressed in black came out from behind a screen in front of the classroom and opened fire with a shotgun.” “The assailant began firing into the assembled class from the stage,” Peters said. “Early reports indicate that he had a shotgun and two handguns.”