Police: College student shoots roommate, kills self
Pastor Dale Morgan
Police: College student shoots roommate, kills self*
POSTED: 1855 GMT (0255 HKT), May 4, 2007
Story Highlights
• Police: A college student shot and wounded his roommate, then killed
himself
• He turned the gun on himself when police tried to enter, authorities said
• Apartment was near Keene State College campus in New Hampshire
KEENE, New Hampshire (AP) -- A college student shot and wounded his
roommate early Friday in their off-campus apartment, then killed himself
as police tried to enter his bedroom, authorities said.
Police went to the apartment after getting a call from a man who said he
had just been shot and had fled to a friend's home nearby, police Lt.
Jay Duguay said.
The officers found the caller's roommate, 21-year-old sophomore Michael
Dyke, in his bedroom at the apartment, about a quarter-mile from the
Keene State College campus, authorities said.
Keene is located about 15 miles north of border between New Hampshire
and Massachusetts.
"Words were exchanged; they attempted to enter the room and Mr. Dyke
fired one shot and killed himself," County Attorney Peter Heed said.
The incident appeared to be isolated, with no known motive, Heed and
school officials said.
Heed said alcohol might have been involved, and an autopsy and
toxicology tests were planned on Dyke's body.
The caller -- junior Jason Lillibridge, 20 -- was wounded in the
buttocks and was hospitalized in fair condition, Duguay said.
Authorities said an unidentified third roommate was present for both
shootings and has cooperated with police.
"This was clearly an incident among roommates," Heed said.
College President Helen Giles-Gee said Dyke had no criminal record and
no apparent mental health problems.
Dyke graduated in 2004 from the public high school, Rivendell Academy,
about 80 miles north in Orford, where flags flew at half-staff Friday.
According to the school's yearbook, Dyke played basketball and soccer. A
brief biography said "Mike enjoys partying and hanging out with
friends." In a mock will, he wrote: "I, Mike Dyke, do will and bequeath
the ability to respect others."
One of Dyke's uncles, Jim Dyke of Orford, said Dyke was one of four
children. "He was a good kid," the uncle said.
The shooting occurred on the last day of finals and two days before
graduation. Many students had already left campus.
The college said finals and graduation would be held as scheduled. It
sent a campus wide e-mail Friday morning and had counselors available.
Keene State, part of the University System of New Hampshire, has 5,200
students and specializes in liberal arts.