All classes have been canceled until Monday, April 23rd. Administrative offices will open Wednesday.
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In a series of press conferences held last night at The Inn at Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum and University Spokesperson Larry Hincker confirmed a preliminary number of 15 injured along with the 32 fatalities by a gunman on campus in addition to his suicide.
Full story > | Students donate | List of confirmed deceased (Update: 4:06AM) | Hospitals handle surge | Facebook reactions | Kaine declares Emergency | Students respond to shooting | Firsthand account |
Downtown remains supportive | [Video: Student perspective - Collin Smith/CT.com] |
[Video: Campus crisis - Brendan Ross/VTTV] |
[Graphic: Map of shootings] | [Gallery: Photos of the tragedy] |
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[Photo Gallery: Vigil]
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Times multimedia as a public service. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 8:27PM Nationals show Hokie spirit Charles R. Barrineau, CT Reporter The Washington Nationals payed tribute to Virginia Tech when they took the field Tuesday by wearing VT baseball hats in a game against the Atlanta Braves. The Nats donned the Virgina Tech baseball hats when the team ran onto the field during the top of the second inning. Many players are wearing maroon hats with a white VT trimmed in orange, although some players, coaches and staff are wearing different Virginia Tech hats. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 7:58PM Students state lockdown occurred late morning T. Rees Shapiro, CT Staff Writer Students have stated that Ambler-Johnston Hall was not on lockdown until as late as 10 a.m. yesterday morning. Meredith Hawkins, a sixth floor West Ambler-Johnston resident described how the halls weren't under firm security measures until after the second shooting had occurred. "My roommate left for class at 7:45," Hawkins said, "and she left the dorm as if nothing had happened." "Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at all." Hawkins said. "The first word of any lockdown didn't happen until around 9:45 or so," Hawkins said. "But they were allowing people to leave, but if you did leave you weren't allowed back in." "It was around 10 or so, maybe even later, that they stopped letting people leaving entirely, but before then, you could just go as you please." Hawkins said. Joann Cassano, a sophomore 4th floor West Ambler-Johnston resident, confirmed the same description of the supposed lockdown of the building. "Us 4th floor people were allowed to leave around 9:10," Cassano said. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 6:54PM Press Conference confirms warrant Kevin Anderson, Saira Haider, and Tim Tutt, CT Staff At a press conference this evening at The Inn at Virginia Tech, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, the superintendent for the State Police confirmed that a search warrant has been executed for Cho Seung-Hui's dorm room located in Harper Hall. The police are currently evaluating evidence retrieved from the scene. Police confirmed a .22 caliber handgun and a .9 millimeter handgun. Gov. Tim Kaine was also present at the press conference. The weapons found on the scene in Norris Hall have been found to have been legally purchased by Cho according to Virginia gun laws. Flaherty stated that Cho did not leave behind a suicide note. Currently the major "thrust" on the investigation is to positively identify the victims. The staff at the medical centers have been working 12-hour shifts to ensure the quality of these investigations. Kaine mentioned appointing several independent law enforcement members to do a thorough "After-Action Review." These reviews will evaluate how procedures were executed during the shootings. The governor deemed the shootings a horrible tragedy. Once he had heard word of the incidents Kaine immediately left Japan, where he had been for a two-week trade tour through Asia. He arrived back in the United States at Dulles International Airport at 11:00 a.m. The governor stated that this conference was not for political purpose, but to help comfort the families. Flaherty continued to say that there has been no comment on the person of interest from the first shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall. There has also been no proof or evidence of an accomplice. A rumor stating that Cho's parents had committed suicide in their home has been proven to be false. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 6:22PM Campus security stirs feelings of safety Michelle Rivera, CT News Reporter Today, whether for the security for the presence of high officials or to add a reassuring presence to a community left in a state of shock, there is an increase in security around campus. With President Bush and other high officials present for the convocation at 2p.m. , there was a swarm of state troopers and other security officers around Cassell Coliseum and Lane Stadium. "I actually just came to campus for the convocation," said Paige Barlow, graduate student for the Department of Fisheries. "I saw tons of officers all over Cassell and Lane." As she walked near the Squires Student Center to get a late lunch, she felt safe. "We're all still a little shook up, but it's nice to know that the issue is being dealt with," she said. Others agreed that the presence of high officials was at least one reason for the heightened security. "I think there are so many officers on campus today one, because the president is here and two, because of the scare of yesterday's events happening again," said De Monh, sophomore business major. "I don't think there are too many officers here today." Virginia State Troopers are present on campus streets, outside of various buildings, and near walkways across campus. "I believe it was partly for the (security of) high officials, but also for a sense of security for the students," said Debbie Wilkins, Hokie parent of two. Though many felt that the purpose of security was for the protection of high officials, others felt it was for a sense of safety for all those on campus. Sarah Sparks, senior theater major, was walking along Kent Street beside the drillfield and passed a congregation of state troopers. "I think it's a great idea that there are so many policemen on campus," Sparks said. "It makes us all feel a lot safer, and having the visual of so much security adds to our feelings of safety." Though the heightened security had the positive effect of helping students feel secure, it also made it difficult to travel around campus. "Security made it hard to get onto the grounds to get our child," said Wilkins. She however stuck to her opinion that security was a positive measure. "A lot of the kids still feel scared and insecure, and with security here, at least they know that today nothing will happen," she said. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 5:10PM Home sports events go on as scheduled this weekend John Edstrom and Gabriel Martinez, CT Web Staff Hokie sports teams will resume their home schedule as of this weekend. The lacrosse team will host the University of Maryland at noon on Saturday and the softball squad will host Maryland on Saturday and Sunday. The baseball team will host the University of Miami in a three-game series this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 4:27PM Michelle Rivera, CT Staff Writer Three patients were announced as being in stable condition. One was discharged from Montgomery Regional Hospital and two were discharged from Lewis-Gale Medical Center. 
Tuesday, April 17th 2007 2:06PMCho's classroom colleague reacts to tragedy T. Rees Shapiro, CT Staff Writer Stephanie Derry, a senior English major at Virginia Tech, was in a 3000 level Playwriting class with Cho Seung-Hui this spring semester taught by acclaimed professor Ed Falco. She described Seung-Hui's conduct in classes and how all the clues had been there, but could never imagine his bizarre behavior would ever materialize into these recent destructive events. "Cho was really, really, quiet," Derry said. "I can't even remember one word he said the entire semester." "We were in a playwriting class together, which is a workshop class, meaning you submit your plays to everyone in it and then we all review the play in class and talk about it," Derry said. "His writing, the plays, were really morbid and grotesque," Derry noted. "I remember one of them very well. It was about a son who hated his stepfather. In the play the boy threw a chain saw around, and hammers at him. But the play ended with the boy violently suffocating the father with a rice krispy treat," Derry said. "He even wrote one play about students being stalked by a teacher." Derry said. "I mean, his kind of writing was pretty peculiar, but when we asked him if he had any comments after we'd reviewed his work, he would just shrug and say nothing," Derry described.  "We
made jokes around the class about his work, because it was just so
fictional, so surreal, we just had to laugh," Derry said, "We had to
laugh because it couldn't ever be real or truthful, I mean who throws
hammers or chainsaws around?" "But we always joked we were just waiting for him to do something, waiting to hear about something he did," Derry said. "But when I got the call it was Cho who had done this, I started crying, bawling." "I kept having to tell myself there is no way we could have known this was coming," Derry described. "I was just so frustrated that we saw all the signs, but never thought this could happen." When asked for comment, Falco noted he was unable to comment. But his classroom participation, she noted, was absent. "He was just there," Derry said. "I can't even describe it." "He would just sit and watch us, but wouldn't say anything. It was his lack of behavior that really set him apart. He basically just kept to himself, very isolated," Derry said. His mood, Derry described, was apparitional; no emotions whatsoever. "I remember only once he smiled," Derry recalled. "But it wasn't very big." When asked whether he had physical behaviors or dressed a certain way, Derry said he always wore a maroon Virginia Tech hat, but other than that usually wore jeans and a t-shirt; nothing out of the ordinary. "When I heard the killer had been wearing a red hat," Derry said. "I immediately thought of Cho." Tuesday, April 17th 2007 1:36PM Cassell Coliseum attracts hearts of those affected Christopher Ritter, CT Online Director Cassell Coliseum is currently near capacity. Students, faculty and community members may find additional seating in Lane Stadium. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 1:35PM Virginia Tech cancels spring football game Christopher Ritter, CT Online Director Virginia Tech has canceled the remainder of the spring football season. This includes the Saturday, April 21st spring football game. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 10:49AM Press conference, this morning Saira Haider and Kevin Anderson, CT News Staff In a press conference held this morning at approximately 9:23 a.m., Virginia Tech Police identified the gunman as Cho Seung-Hui, a South Korean native and resident alien who was an undergraduate senior English major at Tech. Cho was living on campus in Harper Hall. He is considered a loner and the police have had a difficult time finding information. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said that a 9-millimeter handgun and a 22-calibur handgun were recovered from Norris Hall. Ballistic tests, conducted at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lab in Maryland, confirmed that one of the weapons matched the shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall. The person of interest in regards to the first shooting in West Ambler-Johnston was an acquaintance of the female victim and is still under questioning. He was stopped immediately following the first shooting and was detained for questioning. As he was being questioned, the Norris shootings occurred. He is not a student. The personal items of the victims were strewn all over the second floor, making it difficult for investigators to identify them, said Colonel Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police. Victims were found in at least four different classrooms. The gunman was found amongst them, having taken his own life, Flaherty said. There is no evidence at this time that there was an accomplice. Investigators are exploring if anyone helped Cho at any time. There is not enough evidence to relate these events to the bomb threats. The identities of the victims have not yet been released. The process for identifying victims will be long and may take up to several days. The Collegiate Times has confirned several identities of victims. "It is a process that cannot take place in haste," Fierro said. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 9:48AM Press information released on tragedy Joe Kendall, CT Managing Editor The shooter of more than 30 people in Norris Hall has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, a 23 year-old English major from South Korea. Though ballistics tests show that one weapon used in the Norris Hall shootings matches a the weapon used in the West Ambler Johnson shootings, Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum could not confirm that Seung-Hui was the shooter in both incidents. Tuesday, April 17th 2007 9:02AM Hospital releases status information Joe Kendall, CT Managing Editor A Montgomery Regional Hospital press conference revealed that three victims from the shootings yesterday have been upgraded from critical to stable condition. Fox News is reporting that police are investigating the possibility of the shooter being an international student.
Please send any photos or personal accounts you would like shared with the campus community to ctopinions@gmail.com
Monday, April 16th 2007 8:19PM Police update press on shootings Joe Kendall, CT Managing Editor Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said that there has been a preliminary identification of the shooter in the incident that took place in Norris Hall but would not definitively state whether the shooter was the same as the one that left two dead in West Ambler Johnston Hall. Flinchum back-tracked from his statement that the description Ambler Johnson Hall shooter did not match the description of the Norris Hall shooter, leaving it unclear as to whether police were actively pursuing a second suspect in the case. Flinchum said that police were pursuing an additional "person of interest" but would give a description. Two weapons were recovered, but police were not prepared to release their make or model, Flinchum said. 
Monday, April 16th 2007 5:01PMParents are advised to call 1-540-231-3787. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:59PM Preliminary reports detail tragedy Christopher Ritter, CT Online Director According to Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum, preliminary reports have stated that the doors of Norris Hall were chained. The shooter killed himself within Norris Hall and bodies were found throughout the building. No additional persons are in custody. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:54PM Virginia Tech Police explains shooter's death Christopher Ritter, CT Online Director Police have confirmed that the shooter took his own life. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:44PM University Relations confirms death count Christopher Ritter, CT Online Director University Relations has confirmed 31 deaths at Norris Hall, in addition to two deaths at West Ambler Johnson. The identity of the shooter is currently unknown as no identification was present with the suspect. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:39PM Blacksburg Transit to run shuttle service tomorrow David Harries, CT Head Copy Editor BT busses will run between the Inn at Virginia Tech and residence halls starting at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. The bus service will run through 5:00 p.m. The bus will stop at the intersection of Washington Street and Spring Road and run to the Inn. Parents should gather at the Inn at Virginia Tech determine information about their student. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:26PM A memorial will be held at 2PM in Cassell Coliseum. Monday, April 16th 2007 4:24PM President Bush remarks on tragedy David Harries, CT Head Copy Editor President Bush addressed the nation at 4:15 p.m. He spoke out against the violence that struck Virginia Tech earlier this morning. Bush said that he would be "praying for the victims and their families and all members of the university community." Bush also offered any necessary support to Tech and local law enforcement and said, "schools should be places of sanctuary and safety." Monday, April 16th 2007 2:37PM Fox News is reporting that the police have recovered two 9mm handguns. Monday, April 16th 2007 2:13PM As of now, 32 people are confirmed dead. One person from West Ambler Johnston Hall and at least 20 people from Norris Hall have been killed. The shooter as well has been killed, but it is uncertain as to whether it is a student or not. Monday, April 16th 2007 1:29PM Dining halls have been cleared to resume operations. The university is requesting that students limit movement while police continue their investigation. Counseling services will be available until 9:00 p.m. tonight in Ambler Johnston's third cross-over lounge for those who reside in West or East Ambler Johnston. General counseling will be available to the rest of the campus community at McComas Hall until 9:00 p.m. 
Monday, April 16th 2007 1:16PMMultiple fatalities result from Campus shooting Kevin Anderson and Saira Haider, CT News Staff Multiple shootings occurred on campus this morning. There have been 20 fatalities in a shooting that occurred in Norris Hall. There was one fatality in West Ambler Johnston and the other fatality was the shooter, who has not yet been identified, said Virginia Tech President Charles Steger at a press conference. The first shooting occurred at 7:15 a.m. in West Ambler Johnston. Twenty of the fatalities occurred in Norris Hall, which happened approximately two hours later. The victims have not yet been identified. Some are confirmed as students. It has not been confirmed whether or not the shooter is a student. Victims have been transported to various hospitals in the area. The victims' families will be notified as soon as the victims are identified. The Virginia Tech Police, State Police and FBI are investigating. Campus will be closed for the remainder of the day. It will reopen tomorrow at 8 a.m, but classes will be cancelled. Police are still investigating whether the two shootings are related. They are also investigating if it has any relation to the recent bomb threats on Techıs campus. The police are sure that the campus is secure but advise everyone to remain indoors. Campus traffic has been restricted; however, students are now able to leave campus if they wish. Families who wish to reunite with their students are encouraged to meet at The Inn at Virginia Tech. The best advice is to remain indoors, Steger said. "I cannot begin to convey my own personal sense of loss over the senselessness of such an incomprehensible and heinous act," Steger said. Counseling will be available in Ambler-Johnston and the Cook Counseling Center. A convocation is scheduled tomorrow at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university to come together to begin to deal with tragedy, Steger said. Another press conference will be scheduled later this evening. The story will be updated as information is released. Monday, April 16th 2007 12:23PM Virginia Tech police have confirmed 22 fatalities resulting from the campus shootings today. The gunman has also been confirmed dead. Three people were escorted out of Norris Hall by police. The three were handcuffed, separated, questioned, unhandcuffed and then canine teams were sent into Norris Hall said junior computer engineer Nick Saunders who watched the events unfold from the the second floor of Randolph Hall. According to the university, classes have been cancelled for Tuesday, April 17. Monday, April 16th 2007 11:57AM Three people were escorted out of Norris Hall in handcuffs by police. The three were then unhandcuffed and canine teams were sent into Norris Hall. Monday, April 16th 2007 11:50AM The Associated Press has reported at least one death and seven injuries stemming from two shooting incidents on the Virginia Tech campus. Police have taken one person into custody and continue to search for another as part of routine procedure. Monday, April 16th 2007 11:36AM At this time, University Relations is reporting one individual in custody and is searching for a second shooter. The Collegiate Times will publish information as it is made available. Monday, April 16th 2007 10:36AM Due to serious wind helicopters cannot be used to transfer the injured. According to the police scanner, ambulances are being used to transport the victims to Montgomery Regional Hospital. Monday, April 16th 2007 10:32AM At this time, one death and one injury have been confirmed. More information will be made available as it breaks. Monday, April 16th 2007 10:20AM All classes are canceled. Monday, April 16th 2007 10:04AM The university is encouraging everyone to stay indoors and away from windows. West Ambler Johnston and Squires are currently on confirmed lock down. Monday, April 16th 2007 10:00AM A gunman is confirmed loose on campus. Monday, April 16th 2007 9:47AM Shots were fired on campus in West Ambler Johnson Hall in the early morning hours. The Collegiate Times is currently investigating the story. More information will be posted as it is made available. Copyright Collegiate Times, 2007. The Collegiate Times, is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, which was established in 1903 by and for the students at Virginia Tech. Material published on collegiatetimes.com is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without express written consent of the Collegiate Times. |