UCF Suicide Case Planned Wider Attack

The man who killed himself at the University of Central Florida today was a former student who had planned to open fire in his school dorm, the Orlando Sentinel reports. UCF Police Chief Richard Beary identified him as James Seevakumaran, 30, and said writings in his room laid out "a planned attack. It could have been a very bad day for everyone here." Officers discovered homemade explosives, a handgun, an assault rifle, and a 28-round magazine in his room.

Police say Seevakumaran may have pulled the fire alarm on the campus' Tower 1 in order to shoot at students as they fled. But he changed his mind and killed himself in his room instead—possibly because the sound of police scared him off. "When people are on a mission, it doesn't take much confusion to alter that," said Beary. Seevakumaran owed money for this semester and was no longer enrolled, but UCF had let him stay temporarily out of compassion. A roommate said he was "anti-social" but showed no prior signs of violence. (More University of Central Florida stories.)