I was sitting quietly in my office where I supervised the computer lab's network and assisted student, it was 1999.
A female student came from the lab and said "There are men with guns robbing the students in there". I rang security and went to investigate.
Sure enough, on the far side of the big computer suit where there were 70 students using the computers, two young men with guns were mugging students and ravishing women. It looked as though someone was about to be shot.
So I said "Quick, somebody a gun". A student took one, a black revolver, from his brief case and said "here is one, it is loaded and ready to shoot". I took the gun.
I shouted across to the gunmen, "put down your weapons". They turned, and one, seeing my gun, sat down facing away from me at one of the computers. The other one started to level his weapon in my direction. I shot him in the chest. He then was called by another man who said "come and die outside".
A man stood up obscuring the gunman, I called out "sit down" he did so.
The gunman then walked a few paces and pointed his weapon at a student in a lab, I was not sure which one, so I aimed my weapon and shot him in the head. He collapsed immediately.
As I fired I caught sight of Maia who was between me and the gunman, the bullet passed over her head. She shook, turning to see him fall. I smiled at Maia, my friend.
Another student produced a gun and we eyed each other, then he turned away and put away his weapon.
The gunman who sat down was looking at my reflection in the blank computer screen as I approached him, with another member of staff. I saw him pointing the barrel over his left shoulder at me, so I shot him in the head.
I gave the gun back to the student who had loaned it to me and offered to pay for the three shells I had used. He declined saying "that's all right". I said "that is what guns are for".
Security arrived and cleaned up, a later investigation showed I acted in self defence, and then I heard, after I retired, that the University had done a clean-up of weapons all over the University and found several guns among students.
Later the student with the gun, who had put it away came to my office and threatened me. I prayed and he went away.
I think retirement was the right thing to do, I cannot bear to go near the place now....
Chris.
24/12/2011