(Blacksburg, Virginia) My prayers are with the families and friends of the students and faculty murdered today on the Virginia Tech University campus. The entire situation is currently chaotic with law enforcers still containing and investigating the crime scene.
To recap the incident, shortly before 8:00 AM on the Virginia Tech campus, a gunman shot and killed two students in a dorm. Afterward and up until about 12:30 PM, the gunman shot and killed 30 other people, presently not identified. Reportedly, at least two dozen others are injured with an unknown number in critical condition. Police ultimately found the gunman dead, apparently from suicide.
Law enforcers are not identifying the gunman while they continue to investigate. However, Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times has reported that the gunman was a Chinese national who arrived in the U.S. last year on a student visa. It's not known if he was a student at Virginia Tech.
Various media reports strongly suggest that the shooter was despondent because of a failed relationship. It's also strongly suggested that the motive for the shootings has nothing to do with political extremism.
Realize that there has been no confirmation of the identity of the shooter or his motive.
In the meantime, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association is taking donations for a relief fund for victims and their families.
[Update 04/17/07, 9:30 AM]
News conference:
- Virginia Tech senior English major Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a resident alien from South Korea was the shooter who killed students and faculty in classrooms. He lived on campus and was one week away from graduating with a baccalaureate degree.
- Both 9mm and a .22 caliber handguns were used and recovered.
- It's confirmed that one of the weapons was used at both crime scenes.
- Classes have been canceled for the rest of the week.
- No information provided on motive.
- Cho Seung-Hui shot himself in the head.
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