Portland, october 3 (RHC)-- A U.S. official says thirteen weapons have been recovered from the gunman who killed nine people and wounded seven others in the state of Oregon on Thursday. The gunman, identified as Chris Harper Mercer, opened fire on Thursday inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College near Roseburg, Oregon.

The gunman, who was thought to be in his 20s, was later shot and killed by police officers in firing exchange.

"So far we have recovered 13 weapons. Six were recovered at the school, seven recovered at the shooter's residence," said Celinez Nunez, an agent with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"In addition to the weapons recovered, we also were able to recover a flak jacket lying next to the rifle at the school, and it had steel plates with five magazines," Nunez said. "An additional amount of ammunition was also recovered at the apartment."

Following the mass shooting, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his anger and sadness over the deadly incident and made another impassioned plea for gun control legislation. He blasted Congress for refusing to change the country’s gun laws in response to a series of mass shootings across the United States.