Alek Skarlatos, who helped thwart attack on train, attends Oregon school where shooting happened

OREGON -- TMZ has learned Alek Skarlatos, one of three Americans who helped to thwart a terror attack on board a high-speed train zipping from Amsterdam to Paris in August, attends Umpqua Community College -- where a gunman opened fire on Thursday, October 1st, killing 10 people and leaving seven hurt.

Alek Skarlatos was rehearsing for "Dancing with the Stars" Thursday when he got gut-wrenching news: His college was under attack.

Sources at 'DWTS' tell TMZ Skarlatos was in the middle of rehearsals with Lindsay Arnold when he got a phone call about the tragic shooting at Umpqua Community College.

Investigators have identified the Umpqua Community College shooter as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, multiple law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told CNN. Investigators have been interviewing members of his family and friends, the sources said.

As for Skarlatos, TMZ says they're told he immediately left the studio when he got the news, and was making calls back home to make sure his friends were safe.

Skarlatos, who's an Army National Guardsman in Oregon, is studying for a career in law enforcement.

Shortly after leaving the studio, he tweeted, "Everyone send prayers out to UCC."



Skarlatos made headlines around the world when when he helped prevent a possible terrorist attack on a train in Europe. He was on vacation after a deployment in Afghanistan with Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone and student Anthony Sadler when the three Americans, a Frenchman and a British national subdued a man with a rifle.

Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler