College Student Shoots Roommate, Kills Self At Off-Campus Apartment

Friday, May 4th 2007, 11:36 am

By: News On 6

KEENE, N.H. (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 got a call about 12:30 a.m. from a man who said he had just been shot in an apartment about a quarter-mile from the Keene State College campus, police Lt. Jay Duguay said. The roommate, junior Jason Lillibridge, 20, of Connecticut, was wounded in the buttocks and was hospitalized in fair condition, Duguay said.

Police officers entered the apartment and talked to the alleged shooter, sophomore Michael Dyke, 20, of Orford, N.H., who was in his bedroom, authorities said.

``Words were exchanged; they attempted to enter the room and Mr. Dyke fired one shot and killed himself,'' County Attorney Peter Heed said.

Authorities said a third roommate, whose name was not released, has cooperated with police. The incident appeared to be isolated, with no known motive, Heed and school officials said.

``This was clearly an incident among roommates,'' Heed said.

Keene College President Helen Giles-Gee said Dyke had no criminal record and no apparent mental health problems.

``As far as we're aware at this time, there was no history of any issues,'' she said.

The shooting occurred on the last day of finals and two days before graduation. Many students had already left campus.

Final exams and graduation would be held as scheduled Friday and Sunday, and counseling is available to students, the college said on its Web site.

An autopsy on Dyke's body was being conducted, police said.

Keene State, part of the University System of New Hampshire, has an enrollment of 5,200 and specializes in the liberal arts.