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SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Police keep an eye over students and faculty outside the UA College of Nursing after a gunman killed several people Monday morning.
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By Ryan Gabrielson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Monday October 28, 2002
No students, other than the alleged perpetrator, were injured. Parents who have concerns about their children who are students in the College of Nursing or at the UA can call the UA Dean of Students Office at (520) 621-7059, or 621-12222 (after 3 p.m.) for information.
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Three University of Arizona nursing instructors were killed this morning when a former student entered their classroom and began shooting, university police officials said.
The shooter, who fifth-semester nursing student Lori Schenkel identified as Robert S. Flores, killed himself after releasing the students from the room, UAPD Com. Brian Seastone said. Flores is listed in the UA Phonebook as a nursing senior.
The three professors have been identified as Cheryl McGaffic, a clinical associate professor, Barbara Monroe, a clinical assistant professor and Robin Rogers, a clinical assistant professor.
A fourth person was also killed, though the name of the individual is also being withheld.
At approximately 8:40 a.m. the shooter entered the classroom during exams and singled out the professors, said Melvin Thornhill, whose wife was in the class and called him shortly afterward.
Thornhill said his wife - Mabel Alvarez-Thornhill - told him the shooter was a former student who had taken nursing classes with her in past semesters. Thornhill said the former student was disgruntled due to academic ineligibility.
"He had some issues last semester that kept him from completing his classes," Thornhill said. "It didn't even click right away that he wasn't even in that class."
Upon entering the room, Thornhill said the shooter approached one of the instructors and said, "It might not matter to you but it matters to me," referring to his academic status.
He then fired three shots, killing the first instructor. Then, to the second instructor he shouted, "Make your peace with God," Thornhill said.
He said the shooter had additional ammunition with him, but was unsure of what type of weapon was used in the shooting.
There were about 30 people in the classroom, Thornhill said.
All motorists are being directed to avoid Speedway Boulevard due to traffic backups.
The College of Nursing, Pharmacy, the Basic Science building and Life Sciences North are closed this morning while police continue to search for other victims and possible explosives.
