DeKalb Police say a gunman who opened fired at Northern Illinois University is dead.

Authorities say the gunman started shooting in a lecture hall on Thursday, injuring as many as 15 people as students frantically scrambled over desks for cover.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital said on its Web site up to 15 victims were arriving, including three to four with head wounds.

The Northern Illinois University president says five people shot by a gunman in a lecture hall have died.

The shooting took place around 3 p.m. in Cole Hall near the King Commons, a central gathering place on the 25,000-student campus, according to the Web site.

Bloomer mayor Janet Thur says NIU Police Chief Donald Grady was the police chief in Bloomer for a few years ending in the early 90's. Grady says they are looking into a motive for the killings, but don't have one yet.

DeKalb is located about 65 miles west of Chicago.