'Lucky One' Who Survived Oregon School Shooting Describes Massacre

Matthew Downing was asked to deliver a package to law enforcement.

ByABC News
October 10, 2015, 7:55 AM

— -- The college student in Oregon picked as "the lucky one" to survive the mass shooting and deliver a package to law enforcement spoke out about the massacre for the first time.

In a statement released Friday, Matthew Downing described what happened during the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, that left 10 people dead, including the shooter, and nine others injured. He said the shooter, later identified as Chris Harper-Mercer, entered the classroom with a gun and told everyone to gather in the center.

According to Downing, the gunman took out an envelope from a backpack and said there was a flash drive inside and that whoever survived should give the package to authorities.

"He looked directly at me and said, 'Hey kid with the glasses, you are the lucky one. I will not shoot you if you give this to the cops,'" said Downing. "I stood up and he pointed the gun at me and this is the moment I thought I was going to die. He paused for a second and then handed the envelope to me and said to sit in the very back seat and face him.”

Downing said the shooter began firing into the crowd of students. He shot two students who said they were religious, one saying he was Christian and the other saying he was Catholic.

“He was just firing on people who were just lying there,” said Downing.

The gunman also shot a woman in the leg after she picked up a desk to defend herself, said Downing.

When police arrived, the shooter began firing at them, said Downing. He added the shooter leaned outside the classroom and was shot by an officer.

Downing said the gunman then shot himself in the head.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.