Virginia Tech is Devastated by the Worst College School Shooting in U.S. History
by News StaffContributing Writer
April 16, 2007
Updates:
6:15pm A story from the press conference is being written now.
5:45pm The two people who were shot in West Ambler Johnston this morning, a male and a female, are deceased. The male's name was Ryan Clark.
5:10pm Ten agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are now on the Virginia Tech campus assisting with weapons identification. They are collecting shell casings and running some preliminary tests on scene. Once the weapon has been identified, they will begin an "urgent trace" to determine its origins - where it came from, to whom it was registered, and its history of ownership. All material will be sent to the ATF's national crime lab in Maryland. Former Assistant FBI Director Bill Gavin said if reports that the shooter chained the doors to Norris Hall are true, that is “definite proof of premeditation,” as is the number of magazines and rounds of ammunition he apparently had.
Families wishing to reunite with students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. School officials are making plans for a convocation Tuesday at noon at Cassell Coliseum. From Fox News
4:50pm:Virginia Tech remains closed on Monday, April 16, 2007. Vehicular entrances to campus are severely restricted to essential personnel only. Additional security remains on campus as the investigation continues.
Counseling assistance for students in available at West Ambler Johnston and McComas Hall until 9 p.m. tonight. Students are encouraged to utilize these services. Counseling for faculty and staff is available at the Bowman Room in the Merriman Center (athletic complex). Student may also be together at the Old Dominion Ballroom at Squires Student Center.
The university will also close on Tuesday, April 17. Essential personal are to report for work. Classes will be canceled.
A public gathering will be held Tuesday, April 17 at Cassell Coliseum at 2 p.m. (a time change from the originally scheduled 10 a.m. gathering).
All students are urged to contact their parents as soon as possible to let them know individuals are safe.
Students, faculty, and staff who may have any information related to the incident at West Amber Johnston Hall and Norris Hall are encouraged to go to the Blacksburg Police Department to make statements, or call 540-231-TIPP (8477), or 231-6411
Parents with concerns are asked to call the Dean of Students Office at 540-231-3787.
Individuals injured in the two shootings have been taken to area hospitals.
3:48pm: The university's convocation for tomorrow at Cassell Coliseum is scheduled for 2pm, not noon as originally reported by local news. New article has been posted below.
2:52pm: President Bush is scheduled to speak on the shooting at 4:15pm, and a Virginia Tech press conference will follow at 4:30pm. The shooter was found in the basement of Norris Hall. Death toll is now reported to be 31, many students are receiving critical care.
2:03pm: The US Justice Department is reporting 32 fatalities in the shooting incident.
1:54pm: It is still unclear whether or not the gunman was shot or killed himself. According to MSNBC and student report interviews, he may have been searching for his girlfriend and her new boyfriend, but is unconfirmed. University officials are notifying victim's family. State Police are still investigating various crime scenes, and trying to identify all the victims
1:48pm: Derek O'dell, a sophomore biology major was in a classroom on the second floor of Norris Hall when the shooter came in and began to shoot. He let off a full round before leaving. O'dell was one of 10-15 people shot in the class, and was hit in his upper arm. According to O'dell, the shooter was an Asian male in his twenties wearing a maroon hat and a black coat.
1:43pm: Planet Blacksburg would like to request that people send any photos they have taken on campus during this incident to post on the site. Send pictures to k@vt.edu and please indicate if you would rather us not to post your name along with the photo.
1:03pm: President of the University, Charles Steger has released a statment here. State police said much of the carnage occurred in Norris Hall where classes were being held. The shooting took place in more than one classroom; Norris classrooms are moderately sized rooms, and is mainly the building used by the Engineering, Science and Mechanics departments, but other classes are also held there that are not apart of ESM FBI officers were also seen on campus. State, local, and campus police have been assisting with the incident. The White House is expected to give a response. The associated press is calling the incident the deadliest college shooting in US history.
12:56pm: Families wishing to reunite with students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The university is planning a convocation for tomorrow at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university community to come together to begin to deal with the tragedy. Counseling is available in the Bowman Room in the Merriman Center (part of the athletic complex) for employees who seek assistance following today’s events. All faculty and staff have been released and asked to go home effective immediately. The university will open tomorrow at 8 a.m. but classes are canceled.
12:51pm: 1 person killed at initial shooting at 7:15 this morning at West Ambler Johnston, 20 additional killed at Norris Hall, and the remaining person dead is the shooter.
12:30pm: 22 confirmed dead, and 28 injured. Gunman is confirmed dead.
12:05pm: Two faculty members have confirmed more than ten ambulances have come and gone, which substantiates the unconfirmed reports that there are multiple I injuries. Said there are four patients en route to the New River Valley Medical Center, two are en route to Roanoke Memorial, and they received one earlier, which totals seven people and are sending additional ambulances. There are 8-30 injuries according to University Official and one confirmed fatality. Authorities believe they have apprehended the people involved in the incident. If the campus is evacuated, then police will do so one class at a time. An official said the incident may include among its victims, a female student, a dorm resident advisor, and perhaps a faculty member.
Virginia Tech, indeed the nation, has been stunned by the bloodiest day in the history of American higher education.
More than 20, as many as 31 by some reports, students and faculty died today when a shooter when on a rampage.
According to authorities, the shooter first struck at West Ambler Johnston, a dorm, and then moved across the scenic Drillfield that serves as the campus centerpiece and struck terror into the quietly stately Norris building and its classrooms on the second floor.
There the shooter conducted an unprecedented slaughter with at least one firearm just as morning classes were starting to get busy at 9:05 a.m.
Ruiqi Zhang, a computer engineering major, was in Norris 205. “I was sitting in class when we heard loud popping noises a couple rooms down...The teacher and a student went into the hallway and rushed back in and told everybody to get down. We put a table against the door and had a few students holding down the door. The gunman tried to shoulder his way in and when he saw that he couldn't, he put two shots through the door it was the scariest moment of my life...” said Zhang.
A building worker, Gene Cole who has worked for Virginia Tech for more than 20 years said that he caught sight of the shooter who was wearing a dark coat and a maroon hat and what he called “a black automatic handgun.”
Another worker, Pam Tickle, said she heard the shooting and took refuge with two other people in a lounge on the second floor. Tickle said she and the coworkers spent approximately two hours waiting in terror until police came and got them. “God was looking out for me,” said Tickle.
According to a source in University Relations one person has been taken into custody in relation to the shooting that has occurred on campus. University Relations said there were unconfirmed reports of a second arrest late in the morning.
A doctor at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital confirmed that several victims were en route to the hospital for treatment late Monday morning. Some victims are being treated at a Montgomery County hospital, according to another source at the hospital.
The first shooting occurred at West Ambler Johnston early this morning. The campus has been closed and all classes cancelled. All students that were in class are being held there according to University Relations.
A junior student who lives on the sixth floor of East Ambler Johnston said there was a shooting on the fourth floor of West Ambler Johnston early this morning. Her friend informed her the elevators in the building were shut down, but she still attempted to go to class.
She was first informed of the shooting on her way to her 10 a.m. class. Students were walking away from Burruss Hall across the Drillfield and told her to turn around. “There are a lot of cops outside (AJ). Resident Advisors went around and told everyone to stay put,” Alicain Carlson said. “I’m scared out of my mind.”
Police sealed off the inner core of campus. They had swat teams positioned around campus, and there were flashing lights that included from State Police, Blacksburg PD, Mont Co sheriff’s dept, VT Police, and other available departments.
Virginia Tech administration has made repeated and frequent announcements on its public address system, telling students to stay in their classrooms and dorms.
State police are assisting the Virginia Tech Police Department, but VT Police were unable to be contacted for more information.
More information will be available as it is released.
Comments (679)
Unbelievable... Still in shock.
Posted by Andrew Mager | April 16, 2007 11:56 AMThanks for the updates. Keep them coming.
Posted by Tom Markiewicz | April 16, 2007 12:18 PMbest place for updates is here-- CNN, MSNBC behind. Keep the news coming!
Posted by AnnTatman | April 16, 2007 12:27 PMSuch an awful awful tragedy to happen at such a wonderful school and town. My thoughts and prayers are with all the students, faculty, staff and parents. From Greensboro, NC
Posted by Tina | April 16, 2007 1:01 PMChalk up another victory for 'Gun free zones.'
When will governments realize that stripping law abiding gun carrying citizens' ability to carry only makes them targets?
Posted by AJ in JAX | April 16, 2007 1:04 PMAJ- this is no time for trumpeting gun rights. Try and have the decency to respect the lives lost in this tragedy, and not worry about being right or wrong on a complicated issue.
Posted by A-nony-muse | April 16, 2007 1:10 PMplease accept my heart felt sympathies on what has occurred at your university today. It's just too unbelievable for words.
San Francisco CA
Posted by eleanor lynne | April 16, 2007 1:15 PMWell, AJ had to say it, because the gun banners are already saying that "this is why we need to take away guns from everyone."
Either way, this is a sad story.
Posted by b0b | April 16, 2007 1:15 PMplease accept my heart felt sympathies on what has occurred at your university today. It's just too unbelievable for words.
San Francisco CA
Posted by eleanor lynne | April 16, 2007 1:16 PMI was a newspaper reporter on the day of the Columbine shootings; I still remember how the news almost made my physically ill (and it was one of the reasons I left journalism). I feel the same way today, even though I'm far away in northern Arizona. We live in violent times, and there are way too many guns out there. Simple as that.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 1:21 PMunbelievable!...while visiting VT art department from our high school, we were rushed into a basement and notified there was a gunman present on campus. We were thankful that college staff kept us out of harms way. Thank You!
Posted by art freaks! | April 16, 2007 1:25 PMThanks for the updates here. Graduated in 05 but know way too many people still there.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 1:27 PMMy deepest condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy. I lived on the 4th floor West AJ in '96-'97 while attending VT. I have nothing but wonderful memories. It is a bloody shame that something so horrific occurred at such an amazing place. You Hokies are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.
Posted by gbird | April 16, 2007 1:29 PMEveryone at VT and the community of Blacksburg has the thoughts and prayers of us at Berkeley.
I want to know something though. If the 1st shooting was happening at 7:15 or thereabouts, how was it that there were still killings going on almost 3 hours later? What the hell were the police and administration doing?
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 1:29 PMAJ- this is no time for trumpeting gun rights
---
Well those that want to ban guns have no problem using this, like has already begun, to accomplish their goal of total abolishment of the 2nd amendment.
Believe me I feel sorrow for those that were murdered and their families, but my passion for wanting law abiding people to carry guns anywhere stems from me wanting to see less of these massacres.
Politicians, and the like want, to ban guns for their political agendas.
Posted by AJ in JAX | April 16, 2007 1:33 PMMy condolences and deepest sympathies to everyone who is affected. I can't imagine what a scary time this must be for everyone on campus. I went to Tech from '96-'98 and lived in Lee.
Posted by Laura | April 16, 2007 1:34 PMMy heart is heavy this morning for my home state and all the affected kids and families from Richlands and Tazewell County.
Posted by kda | April 16, 2007 1:34 PMFrom SF CA.
Hi Everyone,
I work for NowPublic which is an online news agency that uses citizen journalists to make the news. We've had some information come in on the shooting and are looking for more eyewitness accounts. Anyone can post the story or photos.
Please keep us up to date if at all possible.
Here's the url:
http://www.nowpublic.com/22_killed_in_virginia_tech_shooting
I hope all of you are well.
Posted by Victoria Revay | April 16, 2007 1:35 PMBest,
Victoria
hey AJ, put down your jug of moonshine and re-read the 2nd Amendment. The right to bear arms was intended to arm *state militias*. I don't think Jefferson intended every yahoo to walk around with a Saturday Night Special.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 1:36 PMclipper, screw off please. You're more than welcome to take your second amendment interpretations elsewhere.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 1:39 PMMy deepest condolences go out to everyone touched by this devious act.
+1 to AJ in JAX ? decent citizens unhindered by the government and those that fear what they do not understand could have kept the number of victims a lot lower.
Posted by Steve I. in VA | April 16, 2007 1:39 PMMy deepest condolences go out to everyone touched by this devious act.
+1 to AJ in JAX ? decent citizens unhindered by the government and those that fear what they do not understand could have kept the number of victims a lot lower.
Posted by Steve I. in VA | April 16, 2007 1:40 PMI'm getting shivers just following the story. I can't imagine what everyone at VT is going through. My deepest condolensces and sympathies to everyone at VT and their friends and family. - SF Bay Area
Posted by kent | April 16, 2007 1:40 PMPrayers to the survivors and condolences to the friends and families of those who were killed.
Los Angeles California
Posted by Jack Bausman | April 16, 2007 1:41 PMI am devastated by the shootings and loss of such vibrant lives.
Posted by LL | April 16, 2007 1:43 PMclipper, You're wrong but I'm not going to get into it with you here.
Read here and learn.
http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndpur.html
Posted by AJ in JAX | April 16, 2007 1:43 PMI guess you can call me a yahoo, I've got a .45 on my hip right now.
God, please be with the students at VT, their families, their friends, their professors, the alumni, the administration, the police forces at work, and all those affected by this tragedy. We cannot get our minds around what this means - both in the context of the university and in reference to the state and national governments. Help those making tough decisions make the right ones, and comfort those touched by this chaos. Help us place our trust and faith in you during this heartbreak.
Posted by Allie | April 16, 2007 1:44 PMcute. you're a freaking barrel of laughs.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 1:44 PMThe thoughts and prayers of those of us at Wayne State University are with the VT community.
Posted by LL | April 16, 2007 1:45 PMMy family prays for the VT family, past and present, with profound sorrow for what you have lost and deep appreciation for the painful days you face ahead as you bury, mourn and remember your innocent classmates, friends and children.
Posted by Buffer | April 16, 2007 1:47 PMJMU is praying for you too.
Posted by Rebekah | April 16, 2007 1:47 PMLet's put the 2d Amendment debate on hold for now, at least until the evening news shows please.
What I want to know, and what should be asked of everyone, perhaps particularly in light of the debate, is why were there killings still going on over a 2-3 hour period? What were the police and administration doing?
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 1:49 PMThis is pure tragic. I hope the injured will be ok.
Posted by Martin | April 16, 2007 1:50 PMTom, clearly the response to the initial shooting took time in which the alleged gunman was able to move elsewhere.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 1:53 PMAgree with Tom Oster, let not turn this into a 2nd amendment debate, save that for somewhere else please. Does anyone know where a list of the shot students can be found? I have a lot of friends up there and would like to know.
Posted by Raleigh Marshall | April 16, 2007 1:56 PMNo names published yet. In most cases next of kin have not yet been notified.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 2:01 PMTerrible. Who was the shooter? Any ID on the source of those bomb threats? Any connection between them?
Posted by arch | April 16, 2007 2:03 PMfox news has pictures of an asian in black coat in custody. Not jumping to conclusions but very interesting.
Posted by joey c | April 16, 2007 2:06 PMI do believe this is relevant to this story and not just a overbroad 2nd amendment debate remark.
I wonder if this would have been different if HR1572 had passed?
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/49915
Sad.
Posted by AJ in JAX | April 16, 2007 2:12 PMNate - the initial response may have taken time, but 2-3 hours? With probably thousands of students and faculty on campus? Some hard questions need to be asked about the initial response to this.
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 2:12 PMagree with AnnTatman's comment earlier; this is the best place for updates. good god, 32 dead?
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 2:12 PMTom - what questions do you ask? It takes 10 seconds to shoot someone and walk away; even if the police respond to the call in five minutes, there's no way they can lock down the entire campus and detain all the asian males on campus. If you can't find the guy you can't find him, I don't know what else you'd propose doing.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 2:14 PMI was a newspaper reporter on the day of the Columbine shootings; I still remember how the news almost made my physically ill (and it was one of the reasons I left journalism). I feel the same way today, even though I'm far away in northern Arizona. We live in violent times, and there are way too many guns out there. Simple as that.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 2:15 PM@ joey c:
the shooter was shot by police. so I don't thing its the guy who is in custody...
Posted by Mo | April 16, 2007 2:15 PMNate - the initial response may have taken time, but 2-3 hours? With probably thousands of students and faculty on campus? Some hard questions need to be asked about the initial response to this.
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 2:16 PMHi everyone.
Tragic, tragic, tragic. We, like many journalists and others searching for personal stories about the shooting would like to extend our sympathies to the Virginia Tech University community. We would like to talk to you. Please give our newsroom a call or email me if you'd like to talk to us about this very tragic incidient. We are currently doing interviews on our broadcast.
Thank you.
lvance@wusa9.com
Posted by Lauren | April 16, 2007 2:17 PM202-895-5700
not sure why, but my very first post just showed up again. didn't intend to do that, not interested in any constitutional debate. there's a time and a place for everything. this isn't the time or the place.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 2:19 PMsorry, double post
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 2:20 PMNate - first of all, there's reports that a lockdown of the campus was issued, and then rescinded.
Second of all, initial reports of shooting came in at about 8. There should have been a significant police presence starting as soon as possible. Classes should have been cancelled, the campus sealed off, and students and faculty told to stay indoors and away from public areas or classrooms.
Third - again, 2-3 hours!!! Most cities in CA where I'm from would have had a significant police presence at the site of any gunfire within 10-15 minutes, and that's just on the street and not on a campus with thousands of people around.
Tom - appreciate your comments but you and I know the same number of hard facts here which is somewhere around 0.
The campus is much bigger than your california street and I'll leave the Monday morning quarterbacking to the media talking heads.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 2:24 PMMy prayers are with everyone there.
Posted by Star P. | April 16, 2007 2:25 PMI am hearing that 22 are dead and now I am hearing 32 are dead.
Is this a typo?
I also heard that one shooter shot people at two places three hours apart. I am wondering why he was not stopped after the first attack.
I also heard that the shooter was an Asian male.
Does anyone know if he was a Virginia Tech student?
I knew someone I went to Montgomery College - Rockville (Maryland) with who then went onto Virginia Tech.
Posted by H. Fraser Clayton | April 16, 2007 2:32 PMI didn't know it was going on until 9:50am and thought it was safe to walk around. They had people at some of the doors but they didn't say anything to me. First thing I heard was the loud speaker come on and say there was a gunman on the loose. At which point I ran inside.... I can't imagine being suprised in a class room by someone walking in and just starting shooting.
Posted by Adam | April 16, 2007 2:33 PMAs other media have posted on this site, we in Chicago are looking to talk to anybody who knows of any witnesses or victims from Chicago or the Midwest, or know of any other Chicago-related connections to this tragedy. Email cfusco@suntimes.com or call 312.321.2552.
Posted by Chris Fusco | April 16, 2007 2:33 PMAs other media have posted on this site, we in Chicago are looking to talk to anybody who knows of any witnesses or victims from Chicago or the Midwest, or know of any other Chicago-related connections to this tragedy. Email cfusco@suntimes.com or call 312.321.2552.
Posted by Chris Fusco | April 16, 2007 2:35 PMMy thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Posted by Star P. | April 16, 2007 2:37 PMAP's last report counts 31 deadly victims.
Posted by Mo | April 16, 2007 2:37 PMMy thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims... as well as anyone else who has been shaken up by this horrible tragedy. Both of my older brothers are Virginia Tech graduates and I have many friends who attended or currently attend school there... so this hits really close to home for me.
Durham, NC
Posted by Colleen | April 16, 2007 2:37 PMMy condolences to everyone at Virgina Tech and the town of Blacksburg. I graduated from the University of Florida just before Danny Rolling slaughtered five of my fellow students, and I know the dread and horror, the grief and confusion you must be feeling now, and will for a long time. Be kind to yourselves and to each other in the days ahead. And call you loved ones right now.
Posted by Debra M. | April 16, 2007 2:38 PMMy thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims... as well as anyone else who has been shaken up by this horrible tragedy. Both of my older brothers are Virginia Tech graduates and I have many friends who attended or currently attend school there... so this hits really close to home for me.
Durham, NC
Posted by Colleen | April 16, 2007 2:39 PMjust refreshed several web pages and am seeing several different numbers of dead: 21 (sfgate.com), 29 (ESPN.com), 32 here. fyi, there were some very early posts from people in the Bay Area...that's because sfgate.com had a link to Planet Blacksburg. Props to them.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 2:39 PMjust refreshed several web pages and am seeing several different numbers of dead: 21 (sfgate.com), 29 (ESPN.com), 32 here. fyi, there were some very early posts from people in the Bay Area...that's because sfgate.com had a link to Planet Blacksburg. Props to them.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 2:40 PMSo how many of you little republicans still believe in the constitutional right to bear 9mm's?
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 2:47 PMSo how many of you little republicans still believe in the constitutional right to bear 9mm's?
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 2:49 PMI do B! If one of those victims had one this could have been over as soon as it started.
Posted by Gork | April 16, 2007 2:50 PMSo how many of you little republicans still believe in the constitutional right to bear 9mm's?
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 2:50 PMAJ, if that idiot hadn't been able to buy a gun (as per his stupid second ammendment rights), we wouldn't be having this conversation you idiot. Duh!!!!
Posted by Catherine | April 16, 2007 2:51 PMseriously stop with the gun stuff right now..
Posted by Adam | April 16, 2007 2:51 PMMy thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims... as well as anyone else who has been shaken up by this horrible tragedy. Both of my older brothers are Virginia Tech graduates and I have many friends who attended or currently attend school there... so this hits really close to home for me.
Durham, NC
Posted by Colleen | April 16, 2007 2:51 PMAJ, if that idiot hadn't been able to buy a gun (as per his stupid second ammendment rights), we wouldn't be having this conversation you idiot. Duh!!!!
Posted by Catherine | April 16, 2007 2:52 PMI do B! If one of those victims had one this would have ended almost as soon as it started.
Posted by Gork | April 16, 2007 2:52 PMI am contacting you after seeing the reporting of these awful and heart-breaking events on the BBC in England, where I now live. (I'm a Radford U. alumni) To all involved, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by k tweedale | April 16, 2007 2:52 PMIn AJ's world, 32 single fatalities due to more widespread bearing of arms is somehow ok. I say both situations are terrible, and neither is likely to be avoided by gun control legislation, for or against.
Posted by A-nony-muse | April 16, 2007 2:52 PMI am contacting you after seeing the reporting of these awful and heart-breaking events on the BBC in England, where I now live. (I'm a Radford U. alumni) To all involved, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by k tweedale | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMAJ, if that idiot hadn't been able to buy a gun (as per his stupid second ammendment rights), we wouldn't be having this conversation you idiot. Duh!!!!
Posted by Catherine | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMWe are all praying for the students, faculty, staff, and families of Virginia Tech. I hope our country can come together to support you all and agree that there is something fundemental that needs to be addressed to stop these horrific events from happening again. I'm so sorry for your loss. --Brooklyn, NY
Posted by Lauren | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMI am contacting you after seeing the reporting of these awful and heart-breaking events on the BBC in England, where I now live. (I'm a Radford U. alumni) To all involved, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by k tweedale | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMseriously stop with the gun stuff right now..
Posted by Adam | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMMy thoughts and prayers are with the staff, administration, students and families of the VT community. This has been a terrible, dark day in our history, but we will over come this! My best to all of you in the area!
Posted by M.W. | April 16, 2007 2:53 PMWe are all praying for the students, faculty, staff, and families of Virginia Tech. I hope our country can come together to support you all and agree that there is something fundemental that needs to be addressed to stop these horrific events from happening again. I'm so sorry for your loss. --Brooklyn, NY
Posted by Lauren | April 16, 2007 2:54 PMAs a tech Alumni, its hard to believe everything that has happened today. My thoughts and prayers are with the Blacksburg community.
Posted by Brad | April 16, 2007 2:54 PMAs a tech Alumni, its hard to believe everything that has happened today. My thoughts and prayers are with the Blacksburg community.
Posted by Brad | April 16, 2007 2:55 PMWe are all praying for the students, faculty, staff, and families of Virginia Tech. I hope our country can come together to support you all and agree that there is something fundemental that needs to be addressed to stop these horrific events from happening again. I'm so sorry for your loss. --Brooklyn, NY
Posted by Lauren | April 16, 2007 2:55 PMI am so sorry. Peace be with all those involved.
Posted by liam | April 16, 2007 2:56 PMIn the midst of such tragedy, "Gork" still thinks fewer people would've died if there were MORE handguns.
How sad.
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 2:57 PMAs a tech Alumni, its hard to believe everything that has happened today. My thoughts and prayers are with the Blacksburg community.
Posted by Brad | April 16, 2007 2:57 PMWill you all stop with the gun stuff? I don't care what you think about it, and if you think it's somehow acceptable to use this tragedy to spout your naive personal politics, then you're just sick. Go somewhere else and argue about it.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 2:58 PMPlease stop with the amendment this and policy that stuff. Right now we need to be focusing on helping those who need it and offering support and comfort to those who will be needing it. This is neither the time nor place for a pro-gun vs anti-gun duel. Save it for the next election it can do no good here.
To the victims, families, and friends: our prayers are with you.
Posted by Michelle | April 16, 2007 2:58 PMMy heart is breaking. There are so many kids from my town of Va Beach that go to Tech that it is a very personal heartache. I've been praying for the families and the community of Blacksburg and I encourage all to do so. Please, put aside the politics and focus on peace, focus on prayers for those who have lost so deeply today. We all need to band together now to fight off this pure demonic force that has dropped into Virginia. God bless you all.
Posted by joeyhVB | April 16, 2007 2:58 PMI am so sorry. Peace be with all those involved.
Posted by liam | April 16, 2007 2:58 PMI am so sorry. Peace be with all those involved.
Posted by liam | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMPlease stop with the amendment this and policy that stuff. Right now we need to be focusing on helping those who need it and offering support and comfort to those who will be needing it. This is neither the time nor place for a pro-gun vs anti-gun duel. Save it for the next election it can do no good here.
To the victims, families, and friends: our prayers are with you.
Posted by Michelle | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMour thoughts are with you all.
can one and all please stop with the gun talk.
Posted by Jamie D | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMOur thoughts and prayers are with the students, families and staff of Virginia Tech. --Falls Church, VA
Posted by Mary | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMI am so sorry for all the loss at this beautiful campus and great university. My daughter is at JMU and she says the campus has taken on a very sad atmosphere. I work in DC and everyone is stunned by the news. Why??? That is all we can think.
Posted by Christina Brown | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMMy heart is breaking. There are so many kids from my town of Va Beach that go to Tech that it is a very personal heartache. I've been praying for the families and the community of Blacksburg and I encourage all to do so. Please, put aside the politics and focus on peace, focus on prayers for those who have lost so deeply today. We all need to band together now to fight off this pure demonic force that has dropped into Virginia. God bless you all.
Posted by joeyhVB | April 16, 2007 2:59 PMI am so sorry for all the loss at this beautiful campus and great university. My daughter is at JMU and she says the campus has taken on a very sad atmosphere. I work in DC and everyone is stunned by the news. Why??? That is all we can think.
Posted by Christina Brown | April 16, 2007 3:01 PMI went to HS in Blacksburg; my dad retired as a professor a few years ago.
My heart goes out to all of those affected and touched by this tragedy. The town will never get over this, but will hopefully grow stronger.
Posted by P | April 16, 2007 3:02 PMWhat does everyone think of the on-campus communications or lack there of? I am PISSED OFF!!! We never heard anything about AJ until the second shooting had already started...
Posted by CAsey | April 16, 2007 3:02 PMWords can't describe how sadened I am to hear what happened.
My heart goes out to the families of lost loved ones.
I only wish there was a trained/armed security person to respond in kind to the shooter.
Posted by Enzo | April 16, 2007 3:04 PMVT students, alumni, and faculty now have the opportunity to make a stand. You all have, through this unthinkable horror, the chance to make sense of guns.
Will you take it? Can you see through your grief and your loss long enough to decide, as a group, to put a stop to these entirely avoidable deaths?
People are dead.
People with friends and mothers and potential are dead. Nothing can bring them back. And there is ONE way to assure they did not die in vain.
Will you stand?
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 3:04 PMMy heart is breaking. There are so many kids from my town of Va Beach that go to Tech that it is a very personal heartache. I've been praying for the families and the community of Blacksburg and I encourage all to do so. Please, put aside the politics and focus on peace, focus on prayers for those who have lost so deeply today. We all need to band together now to fight off this pure demonic force that has dropped into Virginia. God bless you all.
Posted by joeyhVB | April 16, 2007 3:04 PMsky news in uk and ireland have a witness on the phone saying the shooter shot an "R.A" and a girl who appeared to be his ex girlfriend and the R.A was dating her...another student in AJ said he never heard a shot, i think the gunman shot his ex and the R.A and left ,un challenged,thats how he got away into the second building. The first witness also said he was told it was 43 dead and 40 injured....my theory is he just got away after the first shooting and also whats an R.A ??
Posted by TomOC | April 16, 2007 3:06 PMThe Virginia Tech community is in my prayers during such an unthinkable tragedy. Know that many students here are praying for all those injured and the families of those who were killed this morning.
Posted by UNC Student | April 16, 2007 3:06 PMCan anyone confirm if the hospital is requesting blood donations?
Posted by Bubby | April 16, 2007 3:06 PMGuns are bad but if you are being fired upon wouldn't you want to have one to protect your loved ones. Maybe the answer is to equip all with guns. If someone shoots in a classroom or a bus or an office, open fire and shoot back.......sounds just as fair as this guy shooting up our kids.
Posted by clb | April 16, 2007 3:06 PMR.A = Resident Assistant
Posted by CAsey | April 16, 2007 3:08 PMExactly this is the time and place to discuss weapon laws. Think about it...
Posted by D | April 16, 2007 3:08 PMclb....
You wouldn't NEED one if some jacked up crazy gook didn't HAVE one.
Get it?
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 3:08 PMR.A = Resident Assistant
Posted by CAsey | April 16, 2007 3:08 PMR.A. = resident advisor. They are in charge of the hall they live on.
Posted by Adam | April 16, 2007 3:09 PMTo clarify the casualties, it was 22 dead at first, the other 28 were still alive but im assuming that the death toll is now 32 because 10 of those who were injured at the time have passed on. This is absolutely terrible, any information on the second person (if he exists?)
Posted by Raleigh Marshall | April 16, 2007 3:09 PM"RA" stands for "resident assistant"; if i remember correctly from my college days, an RA is a student who monitors events in a dorm, deals with disputes within the dorm, etc.
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMGuns are not bad. people are bad. someone wants to kill they can choose a gun, knife or even a car. get real people. guns don't kill, people do.
Posted by gork | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMTo clarify the casualties, it was 22 dead at first, the other 28 were still alive but im assuming that the death toll is now 32 because 10 of those who were injured at the time have passed on. This is absolutely terrible, any information on the second person (if he exists?)
Posted by Raleigh Marshall | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMB. you statement just shows how lame you are..
Posted by CAsey | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMlet's talk politics on another day
"Anthony Della Calce, executive editor of Planet Blacksburg, a news Web site run by Virginia Tech students, discusses what things are like on campus in the wake of today's shooting."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/16/DI2007041600763.html?hpid=topnews
3:00pm
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMclb: whats first? The gun or the murder? Having more restrictive laws maybe don't save the 31, but will save the next 31.
Posted by D | April 16, 2007 3:10 PMB - especially using language like that, you're really making an ass of yourself. Please spare us.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 3:11 PMOh, by all means - - no discussing the cause or the cure - - this is merely a time for heartfelt emoting-over-strangers and profound declarations of appreciation of tragedy.
By all means, carry on with the wailing and gnashing of teeth. It will make everyone feel so much more involved, and it requires no effort at all.
Eventually, though, the cause must be examined. That's where that voice in your head saying "HOW could this HAPPEN!?!?!" will eventually require you to go.
Posted by Sarge | April 16, 2007 3:11 PMI just hope that people weren't being shot while the police with guns and bullet proof vests waited behind cover ("per procedure") like at Columbine--- I think if you're going to be a cop, you need to be brave enough to break policy and run toward the shots as soon as possible, not after some white shirt captain determines that its "okay". Don't get me wrong, I love cops and know some, including my best friend from high school--- But if you watch the Columbine news video, you see cops hunkered down instead of moving in on the shooters.
Posted by Va. Tim, now in NC | April 16, 2007 3:12 PM"Anthony Della Calce, executive editor of Planet Blacksburg, a news Web site run by Virginia Tech students, discusses what things are like on campus in the wake of today's shooting."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/16/DI2007041600763.html?hpid=topnews
3:00pm
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:12 PMGork...
You evil sucker of Satan's cock.
How many of these beutiful children would be dead if the guy had a switch blade?
Are you really this stupid? Or are you on the payroll of the NRA?
Guns kill people. How? They don't fire themselves. That's how. So shut up and crawl back up into Satan's prostate.
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 3:12 PMIn AJ's world, 32 single fatalities due to more widespread bearing of arms is somehow ok. I say both situations are terrible, and neither is likely to be avoided by gun control legislation, for or against.
Posted by A-nony-muse | April 16, 2007 3:12 PMAll of you are in thoughts and prayers!
Students from the University of Maryland
Posted by Maggie | April 16, 2007 3:12 PMreports on sky news ireland from a student at VT say 43 ppl hav been killed and 40 injured.....he also said the gunman shot his exgirlfriend and her present b/f, an R.A which i dont know what that is !!! i think he escaped after this shooting and made his way to norris, another witness on sky news say he was 1 floor above the shooting and heard nothing !!! my theory is thats how he got to the second building !!!
Posted by Thomas O'Connor | April 16, 2007 3:13 PM"Anthony Della Calce, executive editor of Planet Blacksburg, a news Web site run by Virginia Tech students, discusses what things are like on campus in the wake of today's shooting."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/16/DI2007041600763.html?hpid=topnews
3:00pm
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:13 PM"Anthony Della Calce, executive editor of Planet Blacksburg, a news Web site run by Virginia Tech students, discusses what things are like on campus in the wake of today's shooting."
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:13 PM@3:00pm
I don't think you want everyone to have a gun, but a trained professional nearby for quick response makes sense.
Posted by Enzo | April 16, 2007 3:14 PMPlease don't blame police or the response time. The fault lies on the shooter. No amount of training can prepare an institution like a college for an incident as violent and swift as this. The talking heads second-guessing the system in place have no idea of the logistics involved with creating a huge, yet safe environment. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Posted by AndyCop | April 16, 2007 3:14 PMMy heart goes out to everyone touched by this tragedy. It really shows how violence is so pervasive in our society. I hope we find a way to turn things around.
Posted by EK | April 16, 2007 3:14 PM"Anthony Della Calce, executive editor of Planet Blacksburg, a news Web site run by Virginia Tech students, discusses what things are like on campus in the wake of today's shooting."
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:14 PM@3:00pm at Washington Post's web site
My prayers & thoughts are with those famileis that lost loved ones, but we must remember, guns DO NOT kill people, PEOPLE USING the guns, kill people.
Posted by LH | April 16, 2007 3:15 PMOh please Sarge. Who are you to declare these people are strangers to me? Do you know me? Do you know for sure that no one posting here is connected to this? Do you decide how we get to feel about this? Get over yourself and leave.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 3:15 PMI just hope that people weren't being shot while the police with guns and bullet proof vests waited behind cover ("per procedure") like at Columbine--- I think if you're going to be a cop, you need to be brave enough to break policy and run toward the shots as soon as possible (like Dirty Harry), not after some white shirt captain determines that its "okay". Don't get me wrong, I love cops and know some, including my best friend from high school--- But if you watch the Columbine news video, you see cops hunkered down instead of moving in on the shooters.
Posted by Va. Tim, now in NC | April 16, 2007 3:17 PMSorry about the double post before, this site is starting to get bogged down.
I mis-spoke before, the total number of injuries/fatalities increased to 60 or 61, but we'll probably have to wait a little longer for a final word on that.
Guys... seriously, take your political soapbox somewhere else. There are a million ways to kill someone if your really determined to do so (as someone else mentioned before). People who use tragedy to further their political opinions are the lowest of the low.
Posted by Raleigh Marshall | April 16, 2007 3:17 PMI am so shocked. Please accept our deepest sympathies from Berkeley, CA. You are in our thoughts and prayers...
John
Posted by jcat007 | April 16, 2007 3:17 PMnate's right (even if he did tell me to screw off earlier...) everyone needs to refrain from racist/obscene remarks here. we just went through the don imus thing last week...
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 3:18 PMWashington Post discussion per previous e-mail:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/16/DI2007041600763.html
Posted by KD | April 16, 2007 3:18 PMIn AJ's world, 32 single fatalities due to more widespread bearing of arms is somehow ok. I say both situations are terrible, and neither is likely to be avoided by gun control legislation, for or against.
Posted by A-nony-muse | April 16, 2007 3:19 PMB obviously does not stand for beautiful. I ask you how many died on 9-11? They had box cutters...
Posted by Gork | April 16, 2007 3:20 PMclipper - I apologize, nothing personal. This is just about the only source of info I have and it really pains me to see this devolve. Thanks for understanding.
Posted by Nate Lambeth | April 16, 2007 3:20 PMPrayers go out to all the dead, the wounded, and their families, from Fairfax, VA.
Posted by Bob | April 16, 2007 3:21 PMMy prayers are with your entire campus. This news is just devastating.
Posted by Maxwell in KY | April 16, 2007 3:21 PMJust wanted to pass along thoughts and prayers from SF CA to all of the folks out there in Virginia and their families. You have my deepest sympathy and support.
Posted by Tich | April 16, 2007 3:22 PMI love how the gun lovers are positioning themselves as compassionate. Try again some other time.
And you keep arguing that guns DO kill people. That's astounding. As if that nutbag this morning never got out of bed. You think his handguns strolled across campus on their own?
"I'm not anti-gun. I'm what you'd call pro-knife. Because before you can kill someone with a knife, you have to have yourself a good foot race first....thereby promoting physical fitness." : Molly Ivins, RIP.
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 3:23 PMWe're all Hokies today.
--Maryland
Posted by Lisa | April 16, 2007 3:24 PMEvery day I walk past the scars in the concrete that remain from the shooting the University of Texas at Austin experienced in 1966. I'm so sorry that VT now has to bear the distinction of being the site of the worst campus shooting in American history. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, from Austin.
Posted by Austin, TX | April 16, 2007 3:24 PMwhat a tragedy- my thoughts & prayers are with everyone on campus, families and b-burg community as a whole.
Posted by alum in SF | April 16, 2007 3:25 PMthis is so upsetting, my heart goes out to the families of the students effected
Posted by poroma | April 16, 2007 3:25 PMThe best kill of the day for those guns was when that guy put the last one in his mouth.... SAVING VIRGINIA TAXPAYER MONEY!!! THANKS..
Posted by B-Hater... | April 16, 2007 3:26 PMU Suck B.... NRA ALL THE WAY!!!
god bless all the families and friends of the deceased. its truly a tragedy.
Posted by jay | April 16, 2007 3:27 PMSo very, very sad. More prayers for the families and the school from Silicon Valley.
And yes, we need more gun control.
Posted by lux | April 16, 2007 3:28 PMFor those of you making arguments on either side of the 2nd Ammendment issue -- please go play in traffic. This is way too soon after a horrific tragedy to have these debates. The audience here is trying to express their grief, shock, their sense of loss. Those of use that either attend VT or have attended VT aren't interested in disecting the political circumstances yet. There will be a time and place for those debates -- this ain't it.
Posted by Mike | April 16, 2007 3:28 PMI'm just so sorry for everyone involved. I'm also sorry that others think this is the right place for debate and criticism. Things like this make it tougher to face sending our children out into the world.
Posted by T | April 16, 2007 3:29 PMHater...
As if there WAS or could ever be such a thing as a "best kill of the day".
You make me sad to be an American.
Posted by B | April 16, 2007 3:29 PMFor those of you making arguments on either side of the 2nd Ammendment issue -- please go play in traffic. This is way too soon after a horrific tragedy to have these debates. The audience here is trying to express their grief, shock, their sense of loss. Those of use that either attend VT or have attended VT aren't interested in disecting the political circumstances yet. There will be a time and place for those debates -- this ain't it.
Posted by Mike | April 16, 2007 3:30 PMThis is tragic and too upsetting for words. Thoughts, prayers, and condolences to all involved. May God have mercy on us all.
Posted by Ed R | April 16, 2007 3:31 PMour heart goes out to everyone there. we share you pain.
--Princeton University
Posted by ben | April 16, 2007 3:32 PMDo we know any names yet? I can't get through to anyone I know at Tech.
Posted by Shelly'03 | April 16, 2007 3:32 PMTech was such a big dream of so many Herndon High School students, so many cracked down and studied hard to get into there. So many that I personally know. I don't care what any of you have to say about anything even related to the NRA, gun control, lack of gun control, or personal politics thereof. I just want to know that these people that I love so much are okay. Does anyone know where I can go to find out?
Estoy muy conmocionado por lo sucedido esta mañana en su lugar de estudio. Soy estudiante de ingeniería en Chile y espero que Dios esté con los familiares y con la gente que necesitará recuperarse.
Dios les Bendiga. god bless VT
Posted by Cristian Jaramillo | April 16, 2007 3:32 PMLaws that forbid the carrying of arms�disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes�Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
-- Thomas Jefferson, "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776,
Posted by pro 2 | April 16, 2007 3:32 PMMy heart goes out to the entire VT community. I just visited the VT campus 10 days ago with my teenager to show him what a great place it would be to attend college. He went to high school early this morning wearing a VT hoodie. My husband, my sister and two of my husband's brothers are VT alumni. We love your school and pray for all of you.
Posted by a mom in northern VA | April 16, 2007 3:34 PMLaws that forbid the carrying of arms..disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes..Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
-- Thomas Jefferson, "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776,
Posted by pro 2 | April 16, 2007 3:34 PMWell, it's clear that there are enough people on either side of this gun-control issue who don't care a bit about the life that has been lost here today. Way to show the stupid side of humanity, guys!
Posted by Bob | April 16, 2007 3:35 PMB.
Posted by B-Hater... | April 16, 2007 3:35 PMYou are just a SAD American.
You give all this "lovey" speech about the people.. yet you call the guy a "gook" and called the other guy "Evil sucker of Satan's Cock." you are a sad liberal hypocrite.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all those at VT and their loved ones affected by this horrifying situation.
Posted by Brian I | April 16, 2007 3:36 PMSince apparently one or two cranks want to jump in to the gun issue, I'll bite:
Posted by Tom Oster | April 16, 2007 3:36 PMFirst, VT was legally a "gun-free" zone. Just back in January, the state legislature voted down a bill to allow students, staff or faculty with permits to carry on campus.
Second, it's apparent now that 2-3 hours passed in which the shooter was at large and killing people. Classes were in session and students and faculty were killed in them. While more information will come out, the facts as we have them now don't speak well of the competence of the police and administration in dealing with this situation.
Third, there are somewhere on the order of 200+ million guns in the United States. Whatever ideal measures one would propose, even if they were banned outright, there would be many millions of guns in circulation in this country for a very long time.
Shelly - They can't release names until everyone's families have been notified. In my case, I contacted the family of someone that I was concerned about and found out that he was OK. I figured getting directly with him would have been difficult, so I contacted someone who would have been the first call he made.
Posted by Mike | April 16, 2007 3:37 PMMy heart goes out to the entire VT community. I just visited the VT campus 10 days ago with my teenager to show him what a great place it would be to attend college. He went to high school early this morning wearing a VT hoodie. My husband, my sister and two of my husband's brothers are VT alumni. We love your school and pray for all of you.
Posted by a mom in northern VA | April 16, 2007 3:37 PMNo problem Nate. This hits really close to home for you, I'd probably react similarly if this happened at my alma mater. As I said in my first post, I was working as a reporter on the day of the Columbine tragedy. All the TVs in the newsroom were turned to the updates, you couldn't get away from it...and when they announced that 20 kids were dead, I literally had to leave the building. I just did the same thing now, at lunchtime. How do you explain the unexplainable?
Posted by clipper | April 16, 2007 3:37 PMSolutions? How about teaching "Conflict Resolution" in K-12 & College? Unfortunately we only try to teach tolerance of other lifestyles and religions, while advertisers help us to be self-centered (all commericials are about what a better person you should be, so buy 'this' product, and you'll get the girl, job, friends, etc). Many movies and video games glorify violence and make us insensitive to death & hurting. So when a young man becomes troubled over over the girl that left him because he's too into himself to get to know her, he has NO skills with which to resolve his inner conflict, and resorts to violence. Can we please stop raising generations of self-centered ACLU inspired no-values children?
Posted by Va. Tim, now in NC | April 16, 2007 3:37 PMWhere is God in the midst of such a tragedy? Although He continues to listen to what we say to one another and observes how we judge others, more importantly, He provides a place of refuge for the souls of the dead, a source of comfort and hope to the friends and families of the victims, and forgiveness to us all. Thank God there's a God.
Posted by Bob | April 16, 2007 3:39 PMI am so sorry for all of the innocent people that lost their lives today. Such a terrible tradegy. God Bless!!
Posted by Jenny | April 16, 2007 3:40 PM