The News in Saipan--Condolences

Edits (saturday): For a more reliable and detailed account, see the Saipan Tribune, Saturday edition.

Edits based on 6 PM news.

My condolences to the families of those who were killed today.

In Saipan, we're so used to safety that we are completely thrown off course by unexpected and unprecedented violence. Today we had a random shooting spree, in Saipan.

This blog post is cobbled together from bits and pieces. Some is confirmed, some is just reports coming in from talk.

At least one man shot several people, including a 5 year old child, in Kannat Tabla; and at least one or more died. The news also includes the death of a 2 year old child, and an adult male.

There is also an unconfirmed report of a shooting at Herman's Bakery, where a Korean man was shot in the leg or foot by a drive by shooter. No mention of this at all on the news.

At least one man shot several Korean tourists at Banzai Cliff and also may have been shooting at the Last Command Post and further north and then turned the gun on himself and shot himself. Confirmed.

It is believed that the shooter in all cases is the same man; Governor Fitial said in a radio statement that the man is believed to have been an employee of the Kannat Tabla Shooting Range, and a Chinese national.

The reports I've heard have varied--from five shot to nine shot to eighteen shot; from one dead, to five dead, to 10 dead. Still discrepancies--the Tribune says 5 dead, 8 shot; the 6 PM news says 5 dead, a total of 12 shot (including the shooter).

The first name I've heard is connected to the 5 year old--a child of Jenn Celis (grandson of Attilong and Phil; nephew to Keiko del Rosario). Possibly also shot Enrique Naputi and DELETED (obviously inaccurate) and their child (There's a report that two adults have died--confirmed.)

We're still waiting to hear more on this entire incident.

The report of the shooting spread quickly; well-perhaps not. The news reports the shootings as happening "in the morning." By about 1:20 P.M. the schools went into lockdown and parents were called to come and get their students. The early reports suggested that a gang of Chinese were the shooters. The governor was on the radio about 2:00 or 2:15 PM reporting that it was believed to be just one man and that the shooter had killed himself.

KSPN news flash here.

This is a very sad incident. I sincerely feel for all who have suffered. My condolences.

EDITED: 5 dead, 8 more shot, according to the Tribune.