Press conference held, chilling details revealed
Saira Haider and Kevin Anderson, CT News Staff
April 18, 2007
In a press conference held yesterday at approximately 9:23 a.m., Virginia Tech Police identified the gunman as Cho Seung-Hui, 23, 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 confirmed several identities of victims.
The state is working with police and families to identify fingerprints, said Dr. Marcella Fierro, chief medical examiner for the Commonwealth.
"It is a process that cannot take place in haste," Fierro said.
State officials will also be participating in the recovery of evidence for the reconstruction of the crime, Fierro said.
All classes will be cancelled for the remainder of the week to allow students to grieve, said Virginia Tech President Charles Steger. In addition, Norris Hall will be closed for the remainder of the semester. The administration will reopen tomorrow; however, some faculty may take additional time off.
Virginia Secretary of Public Safety, John Marshall, said that the priority must remain on the criminal investigation and dealing with the needs of the families, students and victims.
Marshall said that the university made the right decisions based on the best information available at the time.
"This is a resilient community," Marshall said. "Here at Virginia Tech, I have no doubt that under President Steger's leadership that this community will get stronger."
Marshall said that Gov. Tim Kaine remains committed to providing whatever resources are needed to help. The governor declared a state of emergency yesterday afternoon.
Faculty members are encouraged to communicate with their supervisors, Steger said.
At a second press conference yesterday evening at The Inn at Virginia Tech, Flaherty confirmed that a search warrant has been executed for Cho Seung-Hui's dorm room located in Harper Hall. The police are still evaluating evidence retrieved from the scene.
Gov. Tim Kaine was also present at the press conference.
The weapons found on the scene in Norris Hall have been found to be legally purchased by Cho, according to Virginia gun laws.
Flaherty stated that Cho did not leave behind a suicide note.
The major "thrust" on the investigation is to positively identify the victims. The staffs 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 was also no proof or evidence of an accomplice.
A rumor stating that Cho's parents had committed suicide in their home was proved to be false.
There are currently eight patients in stable condition at the Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg. This is also one patient in stable condition at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. There are two patients in serious condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.