A profile of the suspect is beginning to emerge as authorities search for a motive.

[Thursday's shooter] left an extensive digital footprint on blog sites and other online forums, including a profile picture taken from his MySpace account showing him holding a gun.

On one Internet site, called Spiritual Passions, he described himself as "not religious, but spiritual." He didn't like "organized religion" and said, "I'm looking for someone to share my beliefs."

He used similar language when he said online he was looking for a woman who was "pagan, wiccan, not religious, but spiritual."

The father of a wounded victim told CNN that [the shooter] reportedly ordered students to stand up and asked if they were Christians.

"And they would stand up and he said, 'Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second. And then he shot and killed them," CNN's Stacy Boylan said.

The rampage started late Thursday morning in the small town of Roseburg, some three hours south of Portland, Oregon.

"We heard shoots immediately, took cover, went down and heard multiple shots—a lot of screaming," Amber Adams recalled. (Photo via KMTR)

Officers on the scene confronted and engaged the 26-year-old shooter. There was an exchange of gunfire and the gunman was shot dead, but not before he murdered nine victims, including himself. Four weapons were recovered from the scene.

Within hours of the shooting, President Barack Obama called a press conference to demand new gun laws, saying that gun violence is "something we should politicize."

"Somehow this has become routine," Obama said in a White House briefing Thursday. "The reporting is routine, my response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it—we've become numb to this."

The FBI and other law enforcement officials are now combing through Mercer's emails and online activity trying to figure out a motive.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Melania' Film a Huge Success, Shocking Hollywood Press on Opening Weekend

Give Him 15: Sanctifying the Night with the 'Big Ben Moment' of Prayer for America

Trump Issues Executive Order to Expedite Rebuilding after Los Angeles County Wildfires

CA, NY Set to Lose Congressional Seats after Mass Migration to Southern States

NYC Democrat Wants Newsmax Banned in Taxis

DHS: 6,947 Criminal Illegal Aliens Released into NY Since Jan. 20, with Thousands More to Come

President Trump's HHS Rescinds Biden-Era Abortion Pill Rule That Forced Pharmacies to Supply It

Shocking Email from Epstein Files Implicates Former US Ambassador, Clintons, Bidens, and More

First Lady: 'Melania' Documentary Movie is 'Emotional,' 'Cinematic'

A Different Kind of Classroom Is Outperforming Expectations

Elon Musk's Warning to Parents: 'Woke Programming Is Everywhere in Children's 'Educational Shows,' Even Peppa Pig

School Fires 'Character Coach' after Atheists Complain

Marine Vet Missionary Killed During Facebook Marketplace Meetup Sent Heartbreaking Text Before Death

Maximum Pressure on Iran as US Military Positions for Strikes

Bill and Hillary Clinton Contempt Vote Set for Next Wednesday

Don Lemon Arrested for Role in Church Service Disruption by Anti-ICE Activists

Nicki Minaj? Creed? Who Will Headline Turning Point USA's Rival Super Bowl Halftime Show?

'Trump Accounts' Savings for Kids: How They Work and Who Is Eligible

Here's Why Many Say the Ilhan Omar Assault Was Staged

VIDEO: Alex Pretti Attacked Federal Agents' SUV 2 Weeks Before His Death