Sad day At Virginia Tech
04-16-2007, 12:29 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 03-20-2006
Location: Newport News, Virginia
Posts: 1,125
Sad day At Virginia Tech
Gunman kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.
"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."
The university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Some but not all the dead were students. One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum.
The name of the gunman was not released. It was not known if he was a student.
Up until Monday, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th-floor observation deck of a clock tower and opened fire. He killed 16 people before he was gunned down by police. In the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.
After Monday's shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed. The campus was to reopen Tuesday but classes were canceled.
The university set up a meeting place for families to reunite with their children at the Inn at Virginia Tech. It also made counselors available and planned a convocation for Tuesday at the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena.
After the shootings, students were told to stay inside away from the windows.
"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm where shooting took place.
Aimee Kanode, a freshman from Martinsville, said the shooting happened on the 4th floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, one floor above her room. Kanode's resident assistant knocked on her door about 8 a.m. to notify students to stay put.
"They had us under lockdown," Kanode said. "They temporarily lifted the lockdown, the gunman shot again."
"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the Internet trying to figure out what's going on," Kanode said.
Madison Van Duyne, a student who was interviewed by telephone on CNN, said, "We are all in lockdown. Most of the students are sitting on the floors away from the windows just trying to be as safe as possible."
Police said there had been bomb threats on campus over the past two weeks by authorities but said they have not determined a link to the shootings.
My prayers go out to the families of the victims of this tragedy.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.
"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."
The university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Some but not all the dead were students. One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum.
The name of the gunman was not released. It was not known if he was a student.
Up until Monday, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th-floor observation deck of a clock tower and opened fire. He killed 16 people before he was gunned down by police. In the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.
After Monday's shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed. The campus was to reopen Tuesday but classes were canceled.
The university set up a meeting place for families to reunite with their children at the Inn at Virginia Tech. It also made counselors available and planned a convocation for Tuesday at the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena.
After the shootings, students were told to stay inside away from the windows.
"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm where shooting took place.
Aimee Kanode, a freshman from Martinsville, said the shooting happened on the 4th floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, one floor above her room. Kanode's resident assistant knocked on her door about 8 a.m. to notify students to stay put.
"They had us under lockdown," Kanode said. "They temporarily lifted the lockdown, the gunman shot again."
"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the Internet trying to figure out what's going on," Kanode said.
Madison Van Duyne, a student who was interviewed by telephone on CNN, said, "We are all in lockdown. Most of the students are sitting on the floors away from the windows just trying to be as safe as possible."
Police said there had been bomb threats on campus over the past two weeks by authorities but said they have not determined a link to the shootings.
My prayers go out to the families of the victims of this tragedy.
04-16-2007, 12:38 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-21-2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,100
Jesse
Something is wrong in the world we live in. I just heard on the new that this is not the 1st time this has happen to this Campus. My prayers go out to the families of the victims of this Tragedy. God Bless us all.
Rudy
Something is wrong in the world we live in. I just heard on the new that this is not the 1st time this has happen to this Campus. My prayers go out to the families of the victims of this Tragedy. God Bless us all.
Rudy
04-16-2007, 12:42 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 03-20-2006
Location: Newport News, Virginia
Posts: 1,125
Yes, some nut escaped from Deputies in Blacksburg last year and killed a Deputy. He is on trial right now for Capital Murder. they say the total dead today is now close to 30. Why? Is the question we will probably never understand!
04-16-2007, 12:52 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-20-2006
Location: Hillsdale, Michigan
Posts: 21,640
Another very sad day in America! My thoughts and best wishes go out to all affected by this tragedy.
04-16-2007, 01:01 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-10-2007
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 211
Why? Why do these things happen?
In a way we can understand when we hear about a Soldier getting killed in Afghanistan, or a Police Officer getting shot during a robbery attempt. Violent acts such as this are so horrible as they are so senseless.
Imagine being a victim's Mother, Father, Brother, Sister or Friend. Knowing that person was taken away from you simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I pray for the victims of this terrible tragedy.
In a way we can understand when we hear about a Soldier getting killed in Afghanistan, or a Police Officer getting shot during a robbery attempt. Violent acts such as this are so horrible as they are so senseless.
Imagine being a victim's Mother, Father, Brother, Sister or Friend. Knowing that person was taken away from you simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I pray for the victims of this terrible tragedy.
04-16-2007, 01:57 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-17-2006
Location: Dallas, GA
Posts: 6,050
This news is all over the place right now. It's sad this happened.
04-16-2007, 01:59 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-14-2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,359
It is very sad. We should all say a prayer for the families affected by this tragedy...
04-16-2007, 02:57 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-20-2006
Location: Centralia, Missouri
Posts: 1,707
Thoughts and prayers go out to those at Virginia Tech and thier families.
04-16-2007, 05:58 PM
#9
New Member
Join Date: 03-08-2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 17
My heart breaks for the parents. I could never imagine the pain they are in. Awful.
04-16-2007, 11:16 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-19-2006
Location: Arvada CO
Posts: 5,065
Very sad indeed. I can certainly relate to what is going on there. I live in Denver and saw the heartache and tragedy after the Columbine massacre in 1999. My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of both the injured and the 32 who were killed by this guy.