On October 1st, 2015, tragedy struck the quiet town of Roseburg, Oregon, home to the Umpqua Community College campus. When 26-year-old Christopher Sean Harper Mercer opened fire, it became the scene of Oregon’s deadliest shooting. He fired erratically on both students and staff, senselessly killing nine people, wounding several, and leaving countless others with unimaginable trauma. 

Investigators would slowly uncover the story of the man behind the violence and what led him down such a deadly and destructive path. Much of his time was spent, either isolated, or in the darkest corners of the internet. That’s where his penchant for violent, hateful ideologies seemingly began. In this episode, we peel back the layers of a deeply disturbing story—exploring Harper Mercer’s childhood, his struggles with mental health, his obsession with guns, and his dogmatic descent into incel and racist philosophies.

As we remember the victims, this case serves as a grim reminder of America’s ongoing mass shooting crisis. While this story undeniably centers around violence and loss, it’s also a story of resilience and humanity even amidst horror and in the face of tragedy. We also honor the incredible bravery of survivors, including Chris Mintz, a U.S. Army veteran and student who risked his life to save others during the attack. This is the story of survival, heroism, and tragedy in Snyder Hall.

Honoring the Lives Lost: Lawrence Levine, Lucero Alcaraz, Quinn Glen Cooper, Lucas Eibel, Jason Dale Johnson, Treven Taylor Anspach, Rebecka Ann Carnes, Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, Sarena Dawn Moore

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