Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich activates SEOC to coordinate state support in response to NIU shooting; State Police Tactical Response team sent to assist

CHICAGO - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich this afternoon activated the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) to coordinate the State's assistance in responding to today's shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.  The Illinois State Police Northern Tactical Response Team is on location at the university to aid local law enforcement.

 

"The wounds from the Virginia Tech tragedy are still so fresh in our minds that it's almost unimaginable that something like this has happened again.  And it happened right here in Illinois.  The Illinois State Police are on the scene to assist local law enforcement in responding to the shooting.  We immediately activated the State Emergency Operation Center and are ready to send whatever additional help might be needed.  My thoughts and prayers this afternoon are with the Northern Illinois University community, the students, the faculty, the administration and their families," said Gov. Blagojevich.

 

The Illinois Departments of Public Health, Human Services, Emergency Management, Illinois State Police, and the Red Cross are staffing the SEOC to facilitate any resource requests that may come from NIU, DeKalb or DeKalb County.