Threat Made Against Virginia Tech President (VIDEO)

Once Cho’s identification was confirmed, Virginia Tech Police records were reviewed and it was determined that there was contact with Cho in the fall of 2005.

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - At 7:53 AM this morning, a Virginia Tech operator received a threat against President Charles Steger.

Police officers responded to Steger’s office in Burruss Hall to make him aware of the potential threat.

The increased police presence in and around Buruss Hall led to rumors and false assumptions about what was going on, this then led to an unwarranted report of a suspicious person in Buruss Hall.

Officers immediately responded to the report of a suspicious person, which was unfounded.

“Reports of this kind are not uncommon in the wake of what has taken place in the past 48 hours on the Virginia Tech campus – which is one reason why there is high police visibility throughout the campus,” said Chief W.R. Flinchum, Virginia Tech Police.

State, local, and federal law enforcement officials have released new information on the Norris Hall gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, 23.

Once Cho’s identification was confirmed, Virginia Tech Police records were reviewed and it was determined that there was contact with Cho in the fall of 2005.

Nov. 27th, 2005, Cho contacted a female student through phone calls and in person.

The student notified the Virginia Tech Police Department, and declined to press charges.

However, Officers spoke with Cho concerning this matter, and the investigating officer referred Cho to the University disciplinary system – the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Dec. 12th, 2005, Cho instant messaged a second female student. She made a complaint to Virginia Tech Police.

Later that day police received a call from an acquaintance of Cho’s who was concerned that Cho might have been suicidal. Officers again met with Cho and talked with him at length.

Out of concern for Cho, officers asked him to speak to a counselor. He went voluntarily to the police department.

Based on that interaction with the counselor, a temporary detention order was obtained and Cho was taken to a mental health facility, Carilion Saint Albans Behavioral Health Center.

It was also in the fall of 2005 that the Chair of the English Department, Dr. Lucinda Roy, shared her concerns with Virginia Tech Police regarding Cho and his course writing assignments.

“These assignments were for a creative writing course that encouraged students to be imaginative and artistic. The writings did not express any threatening intentions or allude to any criminal activity, and no criminal violation had taken place,” said Flinchum, “Dr. Roy chose to reach out to this student, out of concern for him and his mental wellbeing.”

Since those contacts in December of 2005 the Virginia Tech Police Department is not aware of any additional incidents or reports made to the police department in regards to Cho.

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teresa black diamond AB April 26, 2007 10:21 am (Pacific time)

wow that is crazy, im in gr 10 in a very small school and i find it sick, there has been threats at our school since that manifesto and i think Cho Seung-Hui could have been stoped if people actually cared

Albert Marnell April 21, 2007 6:51 pm (Pacific time)

To: Wow, Beautifully stated and from a pure heart and soul.

Media Hater Number 2 April 18, 2007 3:07 pm (Pacific time)

Wow,
You are right. We and that includes social structures like University Staffs, Mental Health Professionals, Social Services and all of us as individuals are responsible.....no one lives on an island or in a vacuum.
Please no stupid Hoover jokes.

Wow, some people are sick April 18, 2007 2:36 pm (Pacific time)

Well, based on these testimonies, I can clearly see why Cho, went crazy. Please is this the kind of professionalism we expect from a school staff?. They see but they don't do.. Why the hell in Jesus' name do we pay these people!. Now they all "know" so well about him.

"We were never told his teachers had concern about him committing suicide and all these dark feelings.

"We were never told that our suitemate was depressed or suicidal."

"It was not bad poetry. It was intimidating," poet Nikki Giovanni, one of his professors, told CNN.

"I know we're talking about a youngster, but troubled youngsters get drunk and jump off buildings," she said. "There was something mean about this boy. It was the meanness — I've taught troubled youngsters and crazy people — it was the meanness that bothered me. It was a really mean streak."

"He was so distant and so lonely," she told ABC's "Good Morning America" Wednesday. "It was almost like talking to a hole, as though he wasn't there most of the time. He wore sunglasses and his hat very low so it was hard to see his face."

Please, this sounds as if these people were the cause Cho felt ashamed of himself and his emotions blew. In my opinion a teacher must love people and to teach them. Now this seems like they care more about themselves than the future of the kids. They suck, I am very sorry for the victims, but I am very sorry for Cho as well. If people would have cared more maybe this could have been avoided. =/

Me being a student myself. I am scared of the disconcern of the teachers, I see it all day, so many of my class mates cut school to do drugs just because some teachers don't care enough. Don't believe me ? Ask you own kids. I wish there was a way to express my feelings other than words, because this, can't be described with words. Maybe this is how Cho felt. I wish I could have helped ='( at least I am eager to get so far in life to help people understand the need for communication, and love. Jason Canum; I MUST disagree with you. "Everything in this world is related". and yes, alcohol, drugs, and fire arms can be bad, and yes !, adults like you, I am sorry if I am wrong, excuse me; should stop thinking that it is up to the person and not up to us all. with all my respect.

Media Hater Number 2 April 18, 2007 2:25 pm (Pacific time)

All humans have homicidal and suicidal impulses beneath the surface in the ID. Life events and a cocktail of experience can bring this out in anyone......even Presidents. Yet in a President it is done with a smile, back-up from fools, lies, powerful money interests etc. If you do not properly take care of people or stop the Egos of the big and powerful, this will just be another notch on the gun called the human condition. The culture of violence and indifference to the suffering of people who you do not know, adds to this. This is just another variation of Albert DeSalvo "The Boston Strangler" or any other mass murderer.

='( April 18, 2007 2:12 pm (Pacific time)

POD - Youth of a Nation

MediaHater April 18, 2007 2:05 pm (Pacific time)

Man this kid reminds me of myself. I sure hope I or my group doesn't do anything like this. There had to be a cause, people don't do this unprovoked.

Anoymous April 18, 2007 1:07 pm (Pacific time)

That's rly sad. I hope this doesn;t happen again; anywhere. It's hard for the families who lose other family members

Anonymous April 18, 2007 12:58 pm (Pacific time)

It's too bad that person whom Cho texted hadn't politely declined him but offered to talk to him and try to be a friend, instead of pathologizing him and reporting him to security.

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Threat Made Against Virginia Tech President (VIDEO)

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