Death Count at Virginia Tech rises to 33 Including Gunman

Police are saying that they believe the gunman acted alone and they are not looking for additional suspects.

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - The scene of the worst school shooting in the nation's history continues to be chaotic at this hour in Virginia, as police investigators from a number of agencies continue to investigate the tragic killing spree.

The first call about the shootings came in at 7:15 AM, the next 911 call came at 9:15 AM from Norris Hall. At 9:29 AM, the school began issuing warnings.

"They were going door to door in the area of immediate danger." That area of immediate danger accounted for roughly 900 students.

The university received bomb threats as recently as last Friday, but officials are not drawing a connection at this point.

There are many questions circulating about what is described as a slow police response. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum, says his officers initially believed that they were dealing with an isolated incident that had taken place in a dorm.

When he was asked why students weren't alerted to the imminent danger from a man with a gun, he said, "They had reason to believe the shooter had left the campus."

But the danger hadn't left the campus, and about two hours after the first event, shots erupted from Norris Hall, across an athletic field from the dorm.

The first and second shooting incidents are not absolutely connected, says Flinchum, and are under investigation. Police are saying that they believe the gunman acted alone and they are not looking for additional suspects.

The chief did acknowledge that while he didn't witness it personally, some of the doors at Norris Hall had been chained closed from the inside, indicating that a plan may been in place to slow police response.

Police say the gunman was found dead on campus, they are unsure of his connection to Virginia Tech or if he might have been a student.

Chief Flimchum says that while it was unclear in the beginning, they are now sure that gunman did take his own life.

At least one weapon was found with the dead shooter. More details on the weapons he possessed are not being released at this time. Some media groups reported that the man carried two nine millimeter pistols.

A series of email warnings for students were issued at Virginia Tech, to inform students that a gunman was loose on campus and later to tell them classes were canceled. They were also advised by email of the second incident that claimed the lives of more than two dozen students.

Sadly, many of the students failed to see the email and as a consequence, walked into the gunman's line of fire. Many are saying that the school should have closed immediately, and that they were far from prepared for this kind of a situation. That, in spite of a shooting on the campus on the first day of the school year and the recent bomb threats.

E-MAIL 1
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 9:26 AM
To: Multiple recipients
Subject: Shooting on campus.

The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police at XXX - XXXX

Stay attuned to the www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information.

E-MAIL 2
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 9:50 AM
To: Multiple recipients
Subject: PLease stay put

A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows

E-MAIL 3
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 10:17 AM
To: Multiple recipients
Subject: All Classes Canceled; Stay where you are

Virginia Tech has canceled all classes. Those on campus are asked to remain where there are, lock their doors and stay away from windows. Persons off campus are asked not to come to campus.

E-MAIL 4
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 10:53 AM
To: Multiple recipients
Subject: Second Shooting Reported; Police have one gunman in custody

In addition to an earlier shooting today in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall.

Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter.

All people in university buildings are required to stay inside until further notice.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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Rev. Connie Breaux April 22, 2007 2:21 pm (Pacific time)

Grambling State University offered intercessory prayers on behalf of the entire university community of V.T. 4/18/07

Bush April 22, 2007 7:44 am (Pacific time)

Ricky there are over 100 million gun owners out there! Plus it's free will, now that should tell you something!

Ricky Anders April 21, 2007 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

Bush, If the majority of people in the United States wanted guns the majority would have guns. The fact that the majority of people do not have them should tell you something.

Bush April 21, 2007 7:56 am (Pacific time)

It's my fixation on the 2nd Amendment. There are tens of millions like me. How many like you? LOL.

Buy Dildos Not Guns April 21, 2007 1:16 am (Pacific time)

What is your fixation on guns? Is it a psychological extention of your penis?

Patricia Allen April 19, 2007 10:28 am (Pacific time)

You are in our prayer

BUSH April 18, 2007 8:30 am (Pacific time)

To all I challenge anyone here to provide scientific data that people with concealed handgun licenses (they have been screened and trained as perscribed by legislative statute) have a big gun crime problem. "CANNOT DO IT!!" This population has a lower crime rate than sworn law enforcement personnel. There are literally millions of bits of data that show those area's/states that allow concealed handguns have lower crime rates. For example look at Washington DC, it's illegal to even have a gun (though there is a pending 2nd Amendment case about DC heading towards the Supreme Court),DC has the highest gun crime rate in the country (New Orleans may take over that spot), then compare Vermont where you don't even need a license to carry, incredibly low crime. Here in Oregon, around 15 people have had their CHL's revoked in the last ten years (that's 15 out of 100,000 CHL holders), and never once for a gun crime. That number is statistically insignificant. People do not believe the gun grabbers like Sen. Feinstein and others like her, for they only want their own bodyguards to have guns. Suffice, those who have CHL's, though there will always be a few who get in trouble, they make your environment safer. Literally hundreds of thousands of violent crimes have been prevented, or kept from geting worse by CHL holders. These are "empirical facts" not some suppositional nonsense as so stated by "phony spotter" or any other source. Peace and be safe. Be vigilant.

Ricky Anders April 17, 2007 3:45 pm (Pacific time)

What is to prevent security guards from loosing it? What is to prevent a police officer form loosing it. What is to prevent anyone from losing it. Everyone with guns? You have never been trapped on the L.A. Freeways. How would you like to drive through the inner cities knowing that everyone has a gun? Or go to Jerry Springerville, knowing that all of the white trash have guns? Psych tests are easily passed and can not show a future condition. Everyone with guns. If you have a gun, enjoy the firing ranges to develop your skills and put it under your pillow and sleep with it. But to assume that all people should have guns is crazy. If you want to have real blood shed and Pandemonium, then I would suggest giving everyone a gun. Even abortion is a better solution and having young people go to trade schools like they did at the turn of the century. We need good trades people. Not spoiled college kids with guns; especially when they find out that there are no jobs waiting for them.

Rosenberg April 17, 2007 1:20 pm (Pacific time)

Joe, excellent analysis. No doubt if CHL's were prevalent on any school ground, or most any public place, a carnage like this would be highly unlikely. CHL's have literally a lower crime rate than sworn law enforcement officers as per ## per 100,000. Get ready for the Brady bunch, and those of similar mind, attempt to put out a bunch of misinformation. I imagine, that even that these killing were done via handguns, the gungrabbers will still blame allowing that stupid assault gun law to expire. Watch!

Josiah Ickes April 17, 2007 8:46 am (Pacific time)

I give kudos to joe. They need some form of security measures. I believe unmarked security would be positive. The sad thing is that that in these situautions the people could fight back if only the fear didnt over power them so.

JoJo April 16, 2007 11:06 pm (Pacific time)

Randy Carl Greene, the irony is that it's the religious right that you seem to be a part of by you comment (forgive me if I'm wrong) that want to keep guns in American's hands.

Randy Carl Greene April 16, 2007 8:21 pm (Pacific time)

May the Lord have mercy on us,for what we have come down to as a nation.

joe April 16, 2007 7:34 pm (Pacific time)

The VA Legislature just defeated a bill that would allow students and staff to carry concealed handguns on college campus. A VA Tech spokesman was quoted aftewards saying "Thank God this law didn't pass, now we can assure the parents of our students they'll be safe on campus." I'm guessing that spokesman feels pretty stupid right now. Criminals love gun laws because they know their victims will follow them, Lord only knows the criminal could care less to follow them. So who is the VA Legislature really protecting?
I'm counting down the minutes until Rosie O'Donnel comes up with some conspiracy theory on why this is President Bush's fault. It's only a matter of time but the bottom line is that Wolves kill sheep because they know they won't fight back, it's time our society realizes that you can't defeat evil in the world by showing it a peace sign!

Boob Tube Hater April 16, 2007 5:48 pm (Pacific time)

Needles, Don't you understand how things really work? Television is one of the worst kinds of selective perception around. Surely you must be able to figure out its game, no matter what, ratings = $$$$$$$$$$$$. "I don't believe what I read in the papers, their only out to capture my mind," Paul Simon.

Needles April 16, 2007 5:36 pm (Pacific time)

Boob tube hater. My prayers are that you join those others like you.

Boob Tube Hater April 16, 2007 5:10 pm (Pacific time)

If the media went 24/7 with Iraq (a country that goes through this daily and in greater volume) we would have been out of there in a week. You will notice that the coverage of the suffering is and will be seemingly endless. With regards to the people of Iraq, out of sight, out of mind. Most peoples feelings are totally affected by what they see on T.V., how much and how often. If they showed you daily what goes on to innocent people in Iraq, including young children, you would think of this as a relatively unimportant event. How you react depends on what the government allows you to see and how often. This is senseless killing and is no different than the almost 700,000 people killed in similar fashion...not to mention the injured. Over two million people have fled the country and the U.S. has not put a plan together to bring the innocent refugees to a safe place. This incident should be used to wake people up to the fact that the reason they do not care about the people being killed overseas is that the government and sponsors do not want you to see what has been getting pumped out all day from VA. In addition, even this is all about ratings. Ask Linda Ellerbee... "It's only television."

Alex Burson April 16, 2007 4:53 pm (Pacific time)

There is more to this story than the media is telling us.

Brian Demski April 16, 2007 4:04 pm (Pacific time)

Gods' blessings of peace go to all the families and friends of the victims. Most madness is senseless... this is a prime example. Our Prayers are with all of you!

T.Marie April 16, 2007 3:49 pm (Pacific time)

, First of all why did they allow the public to hear and see those students in that devastaing view.I think its a conspiracy.

Matt Johnson April 16, 2007 3:10 pm (Pacific time)

We are so sorry to hear about this, we are praying for the families.

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