SPU president extends forgiveness to shooting suspect

Seattle Pacific University’s president says he can’t understand why innocent people were targeted, but he forgives the suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting.

SPU president Dan Martin told KIRO Radio’s Morning News he was working on commencement details when the suspect opened fire inside Otto Miller Hall.

Martin’s message to the suspect:

“We want him to know that as a creation of God, he’s loved. We don’t understand why he chose to commit this act to innocent people, individuals that he had no connection with. But as a faith community that seeks forgiveness, certainly as ones that are forgiven, we will extend that to him as well.”

Martin said he went to Harborview Medical Center Thursday night to talk with one of the victims, who is in good spirits and who expressed care and compassion for his classmates. He also spoke with another victim’s family members.

While it’ll certainly carry a different tone, Martin said the school’s commencement will take place next Saturday afternoon at KeyArena with Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund.

“It’s providential that she’s here speaking to our community at such a time as this,” Martin said.