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Officer describes helping student shot on campus

By WTOP Staff

SEATTLE (AP) — A police officer responding to the chaotic scene of a shooting at Seattle Pacific University tried to help a mortally wounded victim breathe who had been shot in the neck as other officers frantically searched the campus for any other possible assailants.

More than 300 pages of police reports on the June 5 shooting describe a frantic scene as officers tried to assist victims who lay bleeding as well as find the gunman. The reports, obtained by KOMO-TV (http://is.gd/bpXhvw ), give a detailed look at the shooting that left one student dead and two others wounded.

One officer detailed his efforts to aid the victim who died, 19-year-old SPU student Paul Lee. In a statement, the officer said that when he arrived, Lee was lying on the sidewalk with “severe gunshot trauma to his upper left throat area.”

“During this time it was not known how many shooters or victims there were. The scene was one of chaos and confusion,” the officer said.

Lee began to lose consciousness, so the officer helped him breathe easier by clearing his airway. The officer continued speaking with Lee, attempting to determine if Lee knew who the shooter was, but the victim was unable to speak.

Officers searched the campus, patting down some students they encountered and going room to room. It was eventually determined there was only one suspect.

Aaron Rey Ybarra is accused of fatally shooting Lee and wounding two others. A student building monitor stopped Ybarra by pepper-spraying and tackling him as he reloaded his shotgun, authorities said.

In addition to a shotgun, Ybarra was armed with a hunting knife and carried more than 50 rounds of ammunition, police said. He has pleaded not guilty to premeditated first-degree murder and other charges in King County Superior Court.

His defense attorney has not disputed accounts of the shooting, but Ybarra suffers from mental illness and was unaware of his actions “until he heard a girl screaming.”

In the police reports, officers said Ybarra told them he had not been sure if he “had been dreaming this incident or if it had been real.”

Ybarra also told police he wasn’t a student at the campus but had been planning the shooting for a while and had toured the area.

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Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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