Students in a pre-algebra class in Dyersburg were in for a shock when a gunman walked in and took the class and teacher hostage on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said 26-year-old Harold Kilpatrick Jr. walked into the second-floor classroom in the Eller Building of Dyersburg State Community College about 12:45 p.m. and barricaded the door. Police believed the man had a 9mm semiautomatic and a hunting knife.

After taking over the class, he told the 13 students and one teacher that he wanted to talk to them about personal problems, police said.

Kilpatrick later released four of the hostages, one of whom was pregnant.

Dyersburg Police Chief Bob Williamson said Kilpatrick had told police he wanted to commit suicide and left a suicide note at the home of his sister saying he “wanted to kill some people and die today.”

According to members of his family, Kilpatrick had a history of mental problems. Kilpatrick also said in the note that he was a member of the terrorist group al-Qaida and claimed to have talked with Osama bin Laden.

“He’s not even in contact (with us),” said Dyersburg Mayor Bill Revell at one of several press conferences held Wednesday night. “Any contact is done through the hostages. He’s doing the negotiating, but he’s not asking for anything. The only thing he’s asked for has been pepperoni pizzas (and soft drinks).” After a nine-hour standoff, police burst into the classroom when they reportedly heard gunfire and then fatally shot Kilpatrick.

“At the time, he was not firing at (the hostages). He just fired a shot off,” said John Mehr of the Tennessee Bureau of Investiga-tion. “He continued to fire shots after the police entered the room.”

Two of Kilpatrick’s hostages were shot. One was in critical condition Thursday, and the other was listed as serious. Further investigation, including a ballistics test, should determine if they were shot by Kilpatrick or hit by police bullets, authorities said.

Kilpatrick attended high school in Dyersburg and recently moved back after living in Memphis for several years. Authorities said he was facing charges of assault and kidnapping in Memphis involving a former girlfriend.