'DWTS' Contestant Alek Skarlatos Responds to Oregon Shooting That Left 10 Dead at His Alma Mater

By
ABC

A deadly shooting at a community college in rural Oregon on Thursday has left 10 dead, including the shooter, and at least seven people injured.

The gunman, a 20-year-old white male whose name has not yet been released, opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, according to Oregon State Police spokesman Bill Fugate.

WATCH: Charleston Church Shooting Leaves Jon Stewart Jokeless In Emotional Monologue

According to reports, a gun found on the scene is believed to belong to the shooter, and investigators are looking into social media posts they believe are from the perpetrator.


Dancing with the Stars
contestant Alek Skarlatos attended UCC before being deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and quickly responded to the tragedy at his alma mater. The 22-year-old American Oregon Army National Guardsman was one of the three men who stopped a gunman from opening fire on a Paris-bound train in August.

"While I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time in August aboard a train bound for Paris, I only wish that the same could be said for today," Skarlatos told ET in a statement. “I wish that I could have been there today to assist. I praise the first responders who were on the ground today in Roseburg as they undoubtedly were integral in saving numerous lives and putting a stop to what could have been more tragic than it is."

"My heart and prayers go out to this community, my community, right now," he added.

Earlier in the day, Skarlatos tweeted his love and support to the school and victims of the shooting. "Everyone send prayers out to ucc," he wrote.

Other celebrities -- including Rose McGowan, who lived 180 miles from Roseburg in Portland, Oregon, during her teenage years, and Josh Groban -- have also taken to social media following the tragic shooting, one of many attacks that have shocked the nation in 2015. There have been 294 mass shootings in the 274 days of the year so far, which includes 44 other school shootings and an attack at a June screening of Trainwreck in Lafatyette, Louisiana.

WATCH: Amy Schumer Reacts to Trainwreck Theater Shooting

See more tweets below.

Watch Jon Stewart's moving monologue from June after the Charleston church shooting in the video below.